Saying that residents of riverain communities such as Bartica continue to suffer from neglect, PNCR-1G MP Judith David-Blair has referred to the 2010 budget as the one with the biggest promises from which Guyanese can expect very little.

Speaking on what she called evidence of grave neglect in Bartica, her hometown, the parliamentarian criticised government policy. She said playfields and other recreational facilities in the community are in a deplorable state while the “youths are forgotten.” Sports are barely being promoted in schools, David-Blair said, noting that the children are eager for the support given that sports are popular in the community. She charged that a few chess boards is not enough to say “sports is being looked into” and stressed that more has to be done for young people in the riverain areas.

But PPP/C MP Albert Atkinson said David-Blair was distorting the progress made in riverain communities and he pointed to Region Eight, saying a tremendous amount was accomplished last year based on the capital investments that went into the communities.

Atkinson mentioned agriculture in the area, saying development is “evident here” and he spoke of ongoing projects to rehabilitate roads and build bridges in the communities. He said people need to “open their eyes” and see what the administration is doing in areas which people say are neglected.

David-Blair also criticised the state of the hospital in Bartica and the care offered, saying that people are suffering. According to her, the hospital is poorly staffed and equipped, and people often end up having to travel to the city for treatment. She said too that the attitude of the staff at the Georgetown Public Hospital ought to be addressed.

David-Blair related a personal experience at the public hospital in the city, saying Minister with the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran had to intervene on her behalf before any action was taken. “I want to thank the minister,” she said, while members of government benches applauded.

But the applause was short-lived because David-Blair later triggered a row in the Assembly when she decided to speak on mining at Bartica. She opened by saying that people there viewed the LCDS not as the Low Carbon Development Strategy, but “Leading Citizens into Deeper Suffering.”

David-Blair, who is also a miner, stated that many of her colleagues at Bartica are not happy with how mining is currently being treated. She said they are interested in where the industry is going and what the future holds. When she decided to speak on what President Bharrat Jagdeo told miners during a meeting, tempers flared.

She commented that the President spoke of the forest deal with Norway as a priority over sustaining small-scale mining in the country.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds objected to her interpretation of the President’s statement saying he was present at the meeting and had heard no such thing. He referred to David-Blair’s comment as unfortunate saying the President spoke the exact opposite. “The President said that miners would be accommodated and that the money collected would benefit the industry,” Hinds said.

During his presentation, Atkinson praised the budget as having vision and he spoke extensively on the projects which were completed in Region Eight last year and projects which are to wrap up this year. He said also that works are ongoing on the Mahdia runway. He said the region has a total budget of around $685 million which is covered for this year in the budgetary provisions.

PPP/C MP Dr Vishwa Mahadeo also spoke on Wednesday night and he praised the quality of healthcare being delivered in the country, particularly in Berbice. He said the government was unable to realise every goal set last year, but that “the funds available were maximized.”  Mahadeo said the targets as regards maternal deaths were met in the region last year and he stressed that the administration is working to improve healthcare. “We are not God, we can’t save everyone from dying but we are working on improving healthcare,” he added.