–due to consistent investments by PPP/C administration, President Ali emphasises
–says more development on the cards with planned projects to improve internet service, delivery of education, infrastructure

REMINDING citizens of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) about the years of neglect under the APNU+AFC Government, President, Dr Irfaan Ali cautioned residents against the “false hope” the opposition is now trying to spread in order to distract persons from the rapid development under the incumbent PPP/C.

President Ali highlighted the ongoing developments during an engagement with residents of Karaudarnau and other neighbouring villages.
In an address to scores of people, Dr Ali said that Indigenous Peoples are no longer being left on the backburners of development but instead are being considered essential stakeholders in the advancement of Guyana.

“Our entire philosophy is based on the dedication of giving and sharing love with the people of our country; every single community, every single corner of our country. Make no mistake, there’s no distinction between any one of our six peoples in this country.

“There is no distinction between any single community because we are working on a plan to ensure every single Guyanese and every single community become prosperous under the umbrella of the One Guyana concept,” President Ali said.

Directing his attention to the initiatives and measures that his government has undertaken to ensure that hinterland communities are included in the country’s advancement, he said just recently, there was an investment of $20 million in cassava to ease the effects of the dry season on the yield.

“… Only last week, the REO and Regional Chairman… called and said, ‘Mr President, the weather has affected us tremendously and the cassava crop… did not bring forth the yield you expected…”and what did we do?’” Dr Ali asked of the scores of residents gathered.
He then went on to answer the question by disclosing that the government sent 500,000 pounds of cassava to the Deep South.

“And I’m [committing] to this region that we are going to continue to buy excess production from the coast and send it to your villages so that you can enjoy the things that make life easy even under the most difficult circumstances. We don’t control the weather, we don’t control the dry season but what we control is our collective ability in the government to ensure we share love with you… to ensure we support you…,” Dr Ali said.

The President did not stop there but instead reflected on how Region Nine has changed since 2020.
“What a change… you can see the development, you can feel the development…” he told the gathering.
INVESTMENTS
The region, since the PPP/C was elected to office, has seen transformation in areas such as health, education, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, among other things.

Since one’s health is their wealth, the PPP/C government has been ambitiously pursing the path of providing world-class health care while simultaneously developing the country’s human resources.

“We are investing in our doctors and medical staff and I’m proud to say they have been working hard and delivering better service to every community across the region,” the President boasted, noting that hundreds of Amerindians are currently training to become health professionals.

Pointing to a specific example, the President said Aishalton, for the first time, will have surgeries being performed right in the village. And this is a result of the investments being made by the government.

Also, education within the region has changed for the better, as the PPP/C administration is making sure that children within the hinterland communities are well-equipped to learn. This is being done in ways like ensuring that students have the textbooks they need, the “Because We Care” grants and establishment of proper facilities to foster better learning.

Regarding schools in the Deep South, the government will be spending over $250 million.
“In the next two years, every community will have access to nursey, primary and secondary education,” Dr Ali said.
Meanwhile, the goal of providing better access to internet within hinterland communities is being pursued by the government.

Guyana has embarked on projects such as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Access and E-Services for Hinterlands, Poor & Remote Communities Project, aimed at providing ICT access and electronic services to underserved areas.

Also, it was noted in November of last year, a total of 130 ICT hubs have been built and equipped across the 10 administrative regions, at that time.
For residents in Region Nine, within the next 12 months, their internet facility will be expanded. It will be upgraded from five megabits to 140.

Further, this year, for roads alone within the Deep South, the government will be spending $200 million.
As it relates to the agriculture sector and supporting food production, Dr Ali said: “This year alone, we will spend a further $50 plus million in the Deep South to support your shade house programme, to support your black giant [chicken] programme and to expand food production in the communities for you to become more sustainable.”

Within the last three years, 3,768 residents, 1,789 households, from Karaudarnau, Shea, Maruranau, Awarewaunau, Aishalton, Achiwib, Parabara and Baishaza benefitted from billions of dollars in investments.

These include almost $300 million spent on health, $700 million on education, $230 million on renewable energy, close to $30 million on ICT services, close to $10 million on tourism, about $80 million in agriculture, almost $260 million in Amerindian affairs, more than $35 million in presidential grants, $3 billion supplementary budget was passed for Amerindian communities, more than $70 million in economic investment fund, and $133 million in Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) funds.

OPPORTUNITIES
Highlighting the opportunities that were taken from Guyanese under the previous administration, President Ali affirmed to citizens that the PPP/C Government will work to ensure the lives of many are transformed.
“You were a society that lost hope [under APNU+AFC],” he said, while using several biblical teachings to show that one should not lose faith.

During an engagement with residents of Potarinau, the President said: “We will stand equally in defence of every citizen of this country. That is why in the three years, we have not only brought back the 2,000 CSO workers and rehired them, but we have hired hundreds of part-time workers additionally at $40,000 per month.”

President Ali also told residents that their communities “lagged” behind not because they were inferior but because they were never handed opportunities.
“…Today we are giving you that opportunity,” he said.

In addition, residents asked for more agricultural assistance for their cassava crops, which were negatively impacted by wildfires brought on by the dry season.
“We brought in 500,000 pounds of cassava. It went to Deep South. We will bring in another 500,000 pounds to go to the communities along here, and also we have some hampers to give to every household here,” he said.

One resident from Quiko raised the issue of how the dry season is affecting their water supply.
President Ali, in turn, assured the resident that some 25 black tanks will be distributed to Quiko families that are impacted by the dry season.
He also promised that the village’s current water distribution system will be finished in a month.