Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Sunday announced that the Linden to Lethem road is to be paved, a Ministry of the Presidency statement said.
He made the announcement in Lethem where he headed a team of government ministers to a public day forum at the Tabatinga Community Ground which saw dozens of residents airing their grievances.
The statement provided no further information on the paving or when the project would start. Paving of the Linden-Lethem road has been spoken about for decades by various governments but there has been little progress.
The cost of the paving and whether it would be feasible have been sticking points. It is unclear if the government will be financing this or it will come under an infrastructure integration project being financed in South America.
Nagamootoo was reported by the statement as saying that among the plans for the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo region is a radio station for Indigenous communities. He also referred to plans for the industrial zone at Lethem. The site which had been set up several years ago has not functioned as expected.
The PM also stated that the Ministry of Public Security has started collaborating with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to address the issue of gun licences for Indigenous communities. “I have spoken to the Minister of Public Security and Vice President, Sydney Allicock, for the firearms which were handed in during the amnesty period to be re-issued once the paperwork is completed… We will also look at the way the fees are charged,” the Prime Minister said.
Residents of the interior regions had been upset that they had to hand in weapons which they said were important to their livelihoods and protection.
Nagamootoo also announced that that the government has plans in train to set up offices in the Region to process applications for passports and birth certificates.
Also accompanying the PM on the visit were Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson; Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence; Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Patterson.
The statement said that the Region Nine residents complained bitterly that under the previous administration there was a lack of responsiveness on housing and land titling.
The release said Patterson announced that the price for land had been reduced. She also processed applications on the spot and allowed residents to select their intended house lot numbers.
Madela LaRose, who had the cost for her land reduced by half said, “Last year I was asked to pay $300,000 for the land, but when I looked at the land I was confused because the price didn’t match the size. I came here this morning to clarify this and I am leaving as a grateful woman,” the statement said.
Brenda Campbell, a mother of six, said she applied for a house lot four years ago and had never received a response. However, on Sunday she left the Tabatinga Community Ground, smiling. “I have six kids and I live in a rented house. I want my own home so I applied for a piece of land and up until today, I couldn’t get any response. But I came and I meet the minister and now I am getting to pick my lot number,” Campbell said. These women were among the first 47 citizens to benefit from the government’s revised housing plans, the statement said.
Lawrence was able to address a case of violation of labour laws, after a woman complained that she was owed pay in lieu of leave.
The statement said that on hearing the woman’s case the minister sent for the employer and was able to recover the $120,000, which was due to the employee.
This is the third ‘Public Day’ outreach exercise hosted by President David Granger’s administration. Supporting officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Water Incorporated, the Civil Defence Commission, the Department of Public Service, the Ministry of Public Health, the Central Immigration Office, the General Registrar’s Office and other agencies were also on hand.
The first such exercise was held in January at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown and the second was held in Perth Village, Essequibo Coast.
