The first Budget of the 11th parliament spells the end of the “marginalization and oppression of the people of Region 10”. This is according to APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Audwin Rutherford.
In his presentation on Monday, the Region 10 representative labelled the budget the people’s budget, one which “addresses from the unborn to the deceased”.
Rutherford charged that the previous PPP/C administration neglected the people of the region in what was in some cases a “calculated neglect.”
The new government, he said has made a significant commitment to improve the health, employment and education of the citizens of Guyana. Rutherford said that these investments “will support [the government’s] thrust in building sustainable communities for stronger regions and a stronger nation.”
He noted that over $18M will be spent on medical infrastructure and equipment in Region 10. This expenditure will be used to complete projects including the extension of the One Mile and Amelia’s Ward health centres and the acquisition of incinerators, neo-natal incubators and ultrasound machines for health centres in the farther reaches of the region.
“Over time our citizens in the far reaches will obtain more services thus reducing their need to travel to the Linden Hospital Complex or Upper Demerara Hospital for basic services and likewise less of our folk will leave the region for health service in Georgetown and at the East Bank of Demerara Regional Hospital,” he said.
Arguing that unemployment in the region is at an all-time high, Rutherford expressed hope that the “financial rebirth of Linden” will see the strengthening of its main economic sectors of forestry, mining and quarrying as well as bring new life to the manufacturing and services sectors.
He referenced the pivotal role of education in development of the region and called for the reopening of the Linden branch of the Critchlow Labour College as a needed addition to the tertiary education sector of the region.
According to Minister in the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott the government will also be regularising squatter areas. The government’s new extensive housing development programme will show no tolerance for squatting, he said.
“We will embark on a serious squatter regularisation and containment initiative. Efforts will be made to clear squatters, and [they] will be provided with opportunities through an increasing range of options for them to move out…No longer will communities be set up without adequate infrastructure …such as entail easy living and orderly development,” he explained.
The government, he added, will embark on a comprehensive scheme of community planning and design so as to promote the development of strong, sustainable, cohesive communities in which Guyanese can enjoy a good life.
However these plans, according to first-time PPP/C MP Nigel Dharamlall lack coherence. He charged that he was present on the opposition side of the house because of a “discredited elections” and that he and his party will adopt Scott’s strong stance on squatting, sparing no effort to evict “those who are squatting on the government side of the house”.
