PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali stated on Tuesday that the primary goal of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration is to ensure the equitable development of all communities across Guyana.
The Head of State made these remarks as he attended the North Pakaraimas District Games held in Kamana Village, Region Eight, where he pledged the government’s commitment to continued investments in the region.
“The Peoples Progressive Party Civic is on a mission and that mission is to bridge our country, to bridge every divide, to bring our people together, to build prosperity in every single community and our Amerindian brothers and sisters the indigenous people of our country will not be left out of the development in our country,” President Ali said.

Against this backdrop, he added that it is for this reason that he came to the region with the Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism, Industry, and Commerce. These ministers, he said, will work with officials in the region to achieve certain agricultural goals, among other things.
According to President Ali, a programme has already started to invest in tourism for hinterland regions.

With this, he said that these types of investments ensure that the same level of development seen in coastland communities is also seen in hinterland areas.
He added, “Tens of billions of dollars we are spending on infrastructure, grounds, roads, schools, health centres because we want you to have the best healthcare, we want you to have improved access to transportation.”

However, President Ali highlighted the importance of connectivity and as such, indicated that over the next three months, the government will be working with villages in Region Eight to bring better internet service to those communities and reduce the cost expended on data.
Meanwhile, the Head of State said that the government has invested in and will continue to invest in offering grants and scholarships to hinterland communities as they want youths in these villages to be the best they can be.
“That is what we want, all of you, young people, all villagers we want you to be the best you can be. We brought back the LCDS and under the LCDS you received almost $14 million in this village alone and this year again you will get another $14 million to support the development of the village,” he expressed.

Further to this, from the supplementary budget, he said that communities received more than $8.5 million and as such the government is working to make the investments to make their lives better.
He added, “Just look around your communities, look around this entire region and you will see the type of improvement that is taking place, the drastic improvement that is taking place… and we are doing this because we care about you, we are continuing so that more of you can become doctors, medex, health professions, teachers, whatever you want to be we want to invest so that you can be that person.”