-commend gov’t for keeping promises

IN keeping with government’s plans to advance development in communities throughout Guyana, the Ministry of Public Works has been working assiduously on significant infrastructural projects.

Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara is one of the communities that is benefitting from these works.

The Guyana Chronicle recently spoke with several residents who all expressed their gratitude to President Dr Irfaan Ali and his government for delivering on their promises to rehabilitate the “deplorable” roads and streets in the community. These works are ongoing.

Sham Persaud, a resident of “Front Street” in Block 8, disclosed that the roads were always a “pain” to use.

He told this publication that sometimes there wasn’t anywhere to drive or walk, especially when the rain fell.

“I would leave early in the morning to go to work, but when the rain falls, I have to stay home to help the children get to school, because they can’t walk on the road,” he said, before adding that the holes were so big that a car could fit inside.

“Right now, we are very thankful for the government because they came and fixed the roads. We can go and come as we please, whether we are walking or driving. We don’t have to worry about the weather or where we will walk anymore. We are happy that there is a sign in front of our block too; it makes the place look really good,” he added.

Singh (only name given), an elderly resident, also related the frustrations he endured because of the state of the roads.

He said: “I used to live overseas, and now I am back in Guyana. I love and enjoy my country, that is why I am back here, but I couldn’t even enjoy a good walk. My grandchildren couldn’t get to school without getting dirt on their shoes, and my son used to wash his car almost every day, especially when it was rainy season.

I am happy that I can take my afternoon walks and my morning strolls without getting mud on my feet or walking in holes. Thanks to the government and what they are doing, not only in Mon Repos, but I see they are all over Guyana helping the people in all the villages, and that is good.”

The resident who is in his late 70s said that throughout his life, he has never seen a president or a government that is in every community and meeting with the people.

“I lived in New York, but I travelled to a lot of countries, and I can tell you I have never seen anything like what we are experiencing here in Guyana right now. It is the right thing to do for the people and the country. The government is supposed to work for all the people of a country, and I am proud to know that we have a government that is doing that for the nation,” he said.

Finally, the Guyana Chronicle spoke with Seon Robinson, a taxi driver, who said: “As a taxi driver, it used to be very difficult for me to get into most of these streets to do pickups and drop offs. I mean, it went from bad to worse, and most of the streets we couldn’t go into, especially when it rained.

Even though I don’t live in this area, I work here, and most of my customers are from this area. I am also very happy for the people in the community, and I am very happy for us, the taxi drivers. With better roads, we wouldn’t have to spend so much on our vehicles in the mechanic shops, and that is wonderful.

“I am hoping that this government continues to do wonderful work all across the country, and we are thankful for them.”

Seon also used the opportunity to thank the government for including the young people in the country’s developmental process.