A government delegation yesterday told residents of the Essequibo River Island of Leguan that they should look beyond “bread and butter issues” and take the bigger picture into account.
“When we are not able to build every single road, when we are not able to give you as yet, treated water… you must take into consideration the bigger picture of what we are trying to do but, we are not neglecting you either”, President Donald Ramotar told residents during a meeting at Leguan Secondary School, according to the Government Information Agency.
The release said that under the stewardship of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Leguan has risen from a community that used bottle lamps to one where there is now electricity in every household, potable water and a health centre.
It added that an Informa-tion and Communication Technology centre installed with support from the Basic Needs Trust Fund is providing ongoing computer training for the islanders.
GINA said that some residents complained about the island’s sea defence which needs repairs. The release said that they were acquainted by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn with the challenges the country faces in this area.
“What we need to consider is how large Guyana is and how under these circumstances, people in all the communities who have not had services… they have to be attended to… Guyana is a very large country with a low population base and a great extent of the infrastructure has to be maintained,” Benn said, according to GINA.
He assured the residents that a contract will soon be awarded for sea defence works on the island and implored them to play their part in the protection of vital infrastructure.
Some farmers also complained about crops that perish at the stelling because of the delays in the ferry service.
“The demand on the logistics for shipping in the Essequibo region has grown tremendously only in the space of three or four years I would say”, Minister Benn said, according to GINA.
Residents hailed Leguan’s effective drainage system because of their efforts at clearing it but there were complaints by farmers that the village council delayed payments for the clearing exercises. GINA said that village council representatives however referred to a lack of farmers’ compliance with regards to payment of rates and taxes.
GINA said that rice cultivation on the island has grown by 50 percent since 1995 when only 1500 acres of rice lands were under cultivation.
