-says Minister Parag as she prepares for new role as Local Gov’t Minister
-mulls plans for continued development of regional bodies
“I WILL dedicate my energy, my effort, and my time to serving Guyanese… I will do all that is humanly possible of me to fulfill the mandate of that ministry,” is the vow that was made by the newly appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag.

In a candid interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, Minister Parag, who previously held the portfolio of heading the Ministry of Public Service, shared that as she assumes her new role, the nation can expect the continued development of local governance and regional bodies.

“Most of the projects and initiatives that the government would have wanted to deliver upon and again going back to the manifesto, would have started since 2020. So as the years have rolled on, we have been continuing, but maybe in a more vibrant manner.

And there are new projects, infrastructure, and of course, we have to ensure communities have very good schools, good health centres, roads, and the ministry will continue the mandate of overseeing the neighbourhood democratic councils and municipalities and the local democratic organs,” Minister Parag said.

She was appointed Minister of the Public Service in August 2020. She now joins Minister Anand Persaud who has been serving as the Minister of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

“I am really honoured, irrespective of whatever portfolio I hold in this government. I am honoured to be a part of this government. I am honoured and privileged to be able to serve Guyanese and I look forward to working with all stakeholders involved.”

Prior to serving as a minister of Government, Parag served as an attorney in private practice.

She recalled her transition to not only being a politician but also to being in the public sector.

“It’s been a learning experience in the public sector. Prior to that, I was a practicing attorney in private practice and coming in here, it was very new. It was a lot of things that I had to learn and I was very eager and willing to learn. And it has been a fulfilling experience. The last three years and one of which I’m grateful for.”

She added: “I was very grateful to His Excellency for being given a portfolio to serve because any portfolio that we have as a government it is to serve the people of this country. And we have been doing that. And the public service was no less.”

The Ministry of Public Service is responsible for developing policies to guide the overall management of the public service across all government ministries, departments, and regional administrations.

The Ministry of Public Service will now be the responsibility of Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, under the Office of the President.