—President Ali tells Karrau residents, highlights government’s plans for key sectors
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to community-driven development, telling residents of Karrau Village, Region Seven that they will play a central role in shaping their own future as major investments continue across the hinterland.
Speaking during a Cabinet outreach, Dr. Ali said the exercise was designed to “connect directly with people” and gather ideas “from the ground” to inform decision-making at the community level.
“We want people to be involved in their own decision-making for the development of the community, and filling out that long-term prosperity plan at the community level all across our country,” he told villagers.
Over the past few years, the President noted, hundreds of millions of dollars have been channelled into hinterland and riverain communities through various mechanisms, including the presidential grant and the LCDS fund, with more than $80 million allocated under the latter alone. These have been supplemented by capital projects and direct investments from Central Government.
ENERGY, HEALTH AND EDUCATION UPGRADES
As the community grows and its ‘prosperity index’ improves, Dr. Ali said there is rising demand for higher levels of public services, particularly electricity.
He announced that the Office of the Prime Minister will examine the feasibility of a mini off-grid system or generator for the village, especially in light of a new secondary school that, when fully occupied, is expected to accommodate more than 200 students.
In the health sector, a new dental chair has already been delivered to the local health centre, and is to be installed and made operational within one week.
“Unfortunately, we have some technical people who are not doing their job,” the President said, adding that a team had been left in the village “to ensure that the dental chair is fully operational by the end of this week, and that the dentist is there, full-time.”
The new secondary school is scheduled for completion by July, and Dr. Ali said it should be fully operational for all levels, with parents offered the option of enrolling their children there instead of sending them to Bartica.
He further committed to rehabilitating the main bridge serving the school, in collaboration with the local council and villagers.
ROADS, HOUSING, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Residents identified poor road conditions as one of the community’s main challenges.
In response, the President explained that Karrau Village requires about two kilometres of internal roads and a further eight to ten kilometres of road into the ‘back dam’.
Government will work with the village to procure key pieces of equipment including a grader, roller, and truck to allow the community to build out and maintain its own road network. An excavator previously provided through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will continue to support farmers in the wider region.
The President also highlighted a home improvement project that has generated “especially excited” interest in the village.
The initiative will begin with an assessment of all vulnerable families, targeting the elderly, persons living with disabilities, single mothers, and large households, with the aim of upgrading homes in riverine and hinterland communities.
Water security and erosion control were also placed on the agenda. Two village wells are experiencing difficulties, and a technical team has been deployed to fix that challenge as quickly as possible. In the lower Karrau area, where about 400 feet of land is affected by massive erosion, the President has ordered a technical assessment to determine the necessary remedial works.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Responding to calls for improved recreational spaces, Dr Ali said efforts are underway to complete a play park facility in partnership with the British Council.
He underscored that the outreach was not limited to announcements and promises but also involved monitoring the performance of technical officers posted to the area.
“Not only are we going to be looking at the opportunities and what we have to do, but we’ll also be assessing the performance of technical people, and wherever there’s lapses in that performance, there will be consequential effect,” he warned.
