–drainage, other infrastructural works, skills training in the pipeline for community, President Ali says

STAYING consistent with the commitment of developing every inch of Guyana, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, told Kitty residents that starting next week, they will see a new wave of works in the community.

The President during an impromptu visit to Kitty, addressed issues regarding drainage and irrigation, security, road works, among other things.

A large group of residents were eager to engage the President and he used the opportunity to say: “We are here to interact with you, to listen to you, to hear your perspective, but more importantly to involve you in the development of the ideas and the development of the solutions to your problems,” adding: “You know the problem better than anyone here.”

He also said that within the last three years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has focused on executing massive infrastructural works within the city such as better roads.

In one week, Dr Ali said a robust plan will be rolled out to deal with the challenges that were spotlighted by residents. Also, ministers and their respective technical teams such as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will be working on this.

Commencing his community visit at Dowding Street and Vlissengen Road, although the Head of State received a warm welcome and praises for the initiatives that the government has been pursuing within just three years in office, residents, however, complained about the issue of drainage and irrigation.

Wasting no time, the President told residents that the issue will be addressed next week. However, a more in-depth inspection of the community left the President stunned at the absolute neglect by the City Council.

Clogged alleyways and poor drainage, according to Dr Ali, will be addressed by Central Government since the APNU-controlled City Hall is displaying no intention of rectifying such pertinent issues.

It was said that Kitty has roughly 15 alleyways which are in deplorable states and are often used as dump sites by many residents. This also led to the President calling for residents to be more responsible and take care of their community.

On the topic of security, Dr Ali also recognised this as a common issue among residents of Georgetown, and with the Kitty Police Station currently undergoing construction works, he called for more police outposts to be present so citizens can feel safe. And as he walked through the community, the President earmarked a potential spot for one of the outposts to be situated.

Also accompanying the Head of State were Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and recently-appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag.

“There will be massive works [in] the entire community. But beyond the physical work and infrastructure, there a lot of human work that we have to do here that we’re committed to do,” he said, while emphasising that the youths within the community will benefit from skill development programmes and subsequently, employment.

Moreover, Minister Indar, during brief remarks to the media, said that the President’s community visit to Kitty is just one of many that he does.

“But what will happen in 2024, what you will see in Guyana and respective to Georgetown in specific, is many more of these…,” he said, while adding that all of the actions promised by President Ali will be promptly followed up.

From next week, all of the drains within the community will be desilted and road works will commence, according to the minister.