-President Ali announces, outlines plans for agri-businesses, community enhancement

IN a bid to create meaningful job opportunities for young people, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced plans to construct a block-making facility at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara.

The Head of State made the commitment after speaking with residents, who requested a project in the community during an engagement on Saturday.

President Ali also ‘pitched’ small business agricultural initiatives to residents during his visit.

Additionally, he announced that several road upgrades and rehabilitation will be undertaken in the coming days.

Back in 2021, in keeping with government’s promise of job creation, the Ministry of Housing and Water, launched its $20 million pilot Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP).

The initiative, which is the brainchild of President Irfaan Ali, was conceptualised with the goal of creating block-making jobs in several vulnerable communities in Regions Three, Four, Six and 10.

The initiative, according to the ministry, comes not just as a job creation platform, but also a platform for the creation of new entrepreneurs in the block-making industry.

REGION THREE DEVELOPMENT

Since assuming office in 2020, President Ali has led numerous community outreaches across the country, and, while engaging residents along the West Coast Demerara corridor, the Head of State has highlighted that the hallmark of the People’s Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) government stands on fulfilling its mandate to the people.

“The PPP has always been a party that is national in nature. We don’t see colour, we don’t see religion, we don’t see ethnicity. We see Guyana; we see Guyanese and we have always worked in the interest of Guyanese,” said President Ali recently.
He stressed that the PPP/C government does not believe in racial barriers but rather in working for all Guyanese.

As such, he highlighted a number of policies that the government has outlined to support the livelihoods of Guyanese.

“We have placed back in the pockets of the children of this region, 3.4 billion [dollars]. If this government was not in place, your children would have never gotten that 3.4 billion that we put back in their pockets.”

The government, he noted, is spending almost $400 billion on the school grants to ensure that all institutions are fully equipped.

In 2024 alone, the government has constructed new schools in Canal Number One, Bagotstown, Parfaite Harmonie, Nismes and Vreed-en-Hoop.

Additionally, to enhance the region’s infrastructure, the government is spending $31 billion on community roads.

This, according to him, will see residents building their household wealth.

Further, he noted that while the government is building massive throughfares, residents could look forward to seeing another 20,000 house lots being allocated in the West Bank Demerara area.

The region, he added, is abuzz with economic activity and residents can look forward to seeing massive opportunities being unlocked with the new power plant, an industrial plant, manufacturing plant and a new port facility.