-President Ali says as he outlined key plans for Region Seven

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has pledged that a re-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will invest directly in reducing transportation costs for hinterland communities and establish a cold storage facility in Kamarang to improve food security and business development.

The Head of State was at the time addressing a public meeting in the Kamarang community during which he reiterated that the government would remain focused on providing equal opportunity for all citizens.

Speaking directly to challenges, Dr. Ali looked to transportation, noting that travel costs must be reduced.

He highlighted that when the PPP/C entered office in August 2020, they removed VAT on hinterland travel; however, he said more will be done.

“I believe the time has come when the government must support the communities directly to reduce their transport cost, so your goods can come in cheaper, and you can have lower prices for goods here in your community,” he said.

He further assured that a new PPP/C Government will “invest in assets that will reduce the transport cost for you here in Kamarang and the surrounding community”.

Turning to food storage and community resilience, Dr. Ali announced that his government will construct a cold storage facility in Kamarang to serve the wider Upper Mazaruni.

“But much more than that, we have to be able to extend the shelf life of your products. But at the same time, we have to be able to store more goods that is coming in here, so that we can have a stockpile of goods,” he stated. “That is why we want to build a cold storage facility here to supply not only Kamarang but all the other communities in the river and surrounding communities there.”

The President underscored that these measures are not only about infrastructure, but about creating jobs, stimulating small businesses, and strengthening community ownership of key services.

“We are about creating jobs; we want our small businesses to grow. That is why we will launch a special business development strategy for Kamarang and the other community,” he explained.
President Ali added, “The people must own the transportation services, the people must own the food production services, the people must own the opportunities that we are creating, and we as a government will invest alongside you to give you the ownership of these things.”

He added that the PPP/C has a proven record of investment in Amerindian and hinterland communities, adding that the party is the “largest representative of indigenous people as a political entity in the entire region”.

Dr. Ali added that for the PPP/C, the ‘One Guyana’ mantra is about providing opportunities for people in every single corner of the country and ensuring that citizens have the opportunity to grow, live a prosperous life, and enjoy the country’s prosperity.

Among other commitments outlined, the President promised an expanded school feeding programme, upgraded salaries and skills training for Community Support Officers (CSOs), and the establishment of a “study hub” with digital facilities to help young people pursue tertiary education through the University of Guyana and the GOAL Scholarship programme.

“We need to upgrade our skillset; move from part-time work to permanent work. We need to give you the tool, and give you the opportunity, and those are the investments that we are making in you,” he affirmed.