Four government ministers completed an outreach recently to the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight and help was pledged for rice cultivation.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release that Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, headed a team which visited Taruka, Bamboo Creek, Tuseneng, Monkey Mountain and Paramakatoi.
Minister Whittaker said that his ministry is excited to learn that Taruka and other villages are moving into rice cultivation, and as such were provided with machinery both from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister.
According to GINA, some of the issues that were raised by residents of the communities visited were “the continued development of their road network, whether or not they would receive solar panel, and dissatisfaction with opposition parties, whose members make promises during visits but fail to deliver.”
Whittaker noted that government is proud of the investments made in education which is currently bringing in positive results.
“Six children from Taruka did well enough to gain a place at the Paramakatoi Secondary School…Minister of Education has been outreaching and it won’t be long before she outreaches communities like these…to engage you to see what else her ministry and government can do to deliver a better quality of service as education is very important,” Whittaker said.
He explained that while inter-connecting bridges were done by the Regional Democratic Council during the course of the year, others such as the Echilibar Bridge will be constructed to bring benefit and relief to hundreds of Region 8 residents.
“These are the kinds of development that we bring to communities across the country…I am happy to know that the toshao from Tuseneng signed a contract to rehabilitate five miles of road…this will bring employment for the community,” Whittaker said.
He also told the villagers that while they are enjoying peace and quietude, and development is taking place, there are some who are trying to impede development.
He said further that the villagers will get their solar panels and other projects that were scheduled would go ahead.
Other ministers who were on the outreach to various communities were Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud.
