Nadir about their concerns
MINISTER of Labour Manzoor Nadir yesterday met with residents of Britannia, West Coast Berbice, who expressed their concerns about their community and their livelihood during the Cabinet Outreach Revised Programme.
More than 20 residents of the farming community converged on the Tempie/Seafield, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Region Five office.
Among them were employees of the Tempie/Seafield NDC, Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority, the police, and a Guyana Water Inc. representative.
The Minister told the gathering that the government is committed to improving the lives of the people and the meeting was planned to update residents of central government’s plan for their communities.
Nadir spoke of the economic growth and all the initiatives and programmes implemented by the government and all the developmental works which were done in the community.
He said that street lights were installed, drainage and irrigation systems were improved and bridges were built and rehabilitated. And the government spent half a million dollars on drainage works, which opened more than 10,000 acres of farmland.
Nadir reminded villagers of the National Training project for Youth Empowerment in which 52 single parents were trained and an economic grant of $65,000 given to them to purchase tools for their businesses in the respective areas of training.
He also talked about small initiatives initiated by the government to improve the lives of residents in rural communities.
Nadir spoke of the ministry’s initiative in assisting citizens with a voucher of $1500 for the purchase of a school uniform per child and the wider benefits.
A female resident however, asked the Minister that they would welcome a training programme which covers sewing, since many young women in the area are without jobs; and if they are trained in that life skill they can open up their own business.
Residents expressed concern about the high toll to cross the Berbice River Bridge, and hoped that a bus service across the facility would soon be a reality.
They also raised the issue of rearing of cattle in the residential area of the community, the lack of potable water, the need for bridges, improved drainage and irrigation, truancy, unlicensed rum shops and pilfering by youths.
Another resident told the Minister of incidents in which cattle roam and destroy their infrastructure, pipelines and property.
At the end of the meeting, Minister Nadir said that a report will be compiled by him and their concerns will be forwarded to cabinet for discussion and action.