–President Ali rallies Region Five to support continued growth

FOR 75 years, through every struggle and every triumph, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has stood shoulder-to-shoulder, no matter the season, with the people of Guyana, and President Dr. Irfaan Ali believes that that record of service will only grow stronger in the years ahead.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at Bath, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Sunday, the President declared, “We are your every day, your every season, and your every moment. Every time this country needed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, we were right there, from colonisation to independence, to fighting dictatorship, to returning democracy, to rebuilding a bankrupt economy, to giving our children a future they can look forward to.”

While others make empty promises, President Ali reminded his audience that the PPP/C has already delivered salary increases, tax cuts, subsidies, and grants, and is now pushing far beyond the basics into a future of large-scale transformation.

MAJOR INVESTMENTS COMING TO REGION FIVE
The President announced progress in securing a major investment to bring a gas pipeline to the region, promising new opportunities for residents. Over the next five years, the government will focus on preparing the next generation through technical skills training, upskilling, and capacity building.
“The next five years are not only about creating those jobs. The next five years are preparing your children; preparing the next generation by investing in technical skills and capacity by upskilling the people,” the President said.

In agriculture, the administration will open up more than 40,000 acres of new land, improve drainage and irrigation in the backlands, and enhance farm-to-market roads. In residential areas, concrete drains, community parks, and recreational facilities will be built to promote sustainable livelihoods.

President Ali said Region Five will see increased food production and youth-targeted opportunities, highlighting an aquaculture project expected to generate $1.5 billion by the end of the year, with the potential to reach $6 billion annually within three years.

“We are going to hand that project over to the young people of Region Five, so you can earn it,” President Ali said.
Shifting his attention to the poultry industry, President Ali reminded them that the region has long had a rich traditional history in livestock farming.
As such, he outlined plans to increase the region’s livestock population by over 2,000% within five years, ably supported by investments in breeding, feed mills, pastures, and subsidised costs for farmers.

Projects already in place include the black belly sheep initiative, a modern abattoir built to international standards, and a forthcoming cold storage facility to extend shelf life and add value to farmers’ products.

“We want to extend the shelf life of your product; we do not want you to dump your product, but we must add value to our product and find markets,” he affirmed.
The government will also establish a modern agro-processing facility equipped with advanced technology for medium and large-scale farmers.
“We will invest in you; in this economy, in your production, in your land, and make agriculture and production not only profitable but sustainable,” President Ali affirmed.