A joint APNU and AFC team on Tuesday met with residents of Mahdia (Region Eight) to discuss their problems.
A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change had combined after the 2011 general elections to oust the PPP/C from chairmanship of the region. The AFC presently holds the chairmanship and it was the first time it had ever done so at the regional level.
APNU Leader David Granger, APNU MP Ronald Bulkan, and AFC MP Eula Marcello participated in the combined outreach.
A release from APNU said that more than 100 residents assembled at the Mahdia Community Centre for the Town Hall-style meeting where they voiced complaints about issues affecting their livelihoods.
According to residents, the work of the Regional Democratic Council is being stymied by the Regional Executive Offi-cer. Residents also told the opposition team that they were dissatisfied with the condition of roads and other infrastructure in the region. They said scheduled maintenance works are not being done on the roads and bridges, particularly the Mahdia surface roads; the Mabura Junction, Mango Landing and the roads to Tumatumari, Micobie, North Fork and Princeville.
According to the report, most of the complaints made by residents were related to education, the cost of living, health care, electricity and potable water supply. They also shared the view that central government was stifling the region’s development.
Among the recommendations made were for an improved transportation network and properly maintained roads which would reduce the cost of bringing foodstuff into the region. Bulkan called on the PPP/Civic government to commit resources to the rehabilitation of the Tuma-tumari Hydro Electric Plant so that residents in Mahdia and nearby areas could access a cheap, reliable and continuous electricity supply. He said central government’s failure to allow the local democratic organs to function was responsible for the underdevelopment of Mahdia. “The PPP-C had chosen the path of neglect and abuse rather than care and concern,” he said.
Meanwhile, Granger told the gathering that he envisions agricultural institutions being established in all ten administrative regions. He also said instead of depending on fossil fuels, the nation needs to consider wind, solar and hydro energy which are all credible sources of energy. He also noted that the Potaro-Siparuni region is one of the biggest and potentially the riches areas of the country, yet it remains one of its poorest.
