A voluntary group in Bartica is looking to make its mark on the development of the town once successful at the upcoming local government elections.
The group which operates under the name Bartica Independent Green Alliance (BIGA) and was officially launched on Tuesday, is on a mission to pilot the holistic development of Bartica.
Chairman of the group Holbert Knights, a former regional chairman, said Bartica has been declared a town at a time when its main infrastructure and services are in a deplorable condition. Having already committed to the transformation of the community, the government would need a sound, capable and qualified local partner in order to implement the works necessary for this development and that is where his group comes in, he said.
“The Bartica Indepen-dent Green Alliance is the only local group that possesses those attributes within its ranks. We are the group best equipped to represent our people, and our mission is to do just that,” Knights said.
Knights told Stabroek News that they need massive infrastructure development to prepare Bartica to meet the challenges of becoming a town. He noted that better roads, landing facilities and public offices are a few of the infrastructure central government has started addressing but there is the need for improved public utilities, especially electricity, water and internet bandwidth. He also stated that they are looking to address the issue of famous Bartica solid water management situation.
The group is also thinking into the future and seeking ways to implement projects such as hydropower and solar farms with the President’s Green Initiative for Bartica, which the group fully supports and intends to help implement once elected into local office. Another mega project is to have trails from Parika to Goshen and Bartica to Mahdia. According to a Facebook post on the voluntary group’s page they would work with central government and push to have the projects implemented even if they do not secure seats on the council after the elections.
Touching on the topic of tourism, Knights explained that at the local level, his group would like to be a part of the municipal council to work closely with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Tourism and the local tour operators to solidify their programme for boosting tourism at Bartica.
Further Knights said he would like to see Bartica economy strengthened and in order for such to be done investments must be made, not from outsiders alone, but residents of the town as well. The group plans to fund projects through subventions from central government, budgetary allocations and fund raisings. “Our finances will come primarily from the collection of revenues and also from government subventions. Apart from those, [we] will structure fund-raising drives towards special projects, and these would include the participation of all the residents of Bartica,” Knights emphasised.
Areas of urgency relating to social development are human services and social development, culture and sport, education, infrastructure, security and the environment, he said. These would set the foundation for comprehensive development in the community, he added.
According to Knights, there are areas that have been left underdeveloped for years and as such they are working to ensure that no community or constituency is left behind and underdeveloped. He made reference to “Dogg Point” which is one of the outlying communities of Bartica. He explained that the community is now included in the jurisdiction of the new town. “Members made several visits to that community to hear listen to the cries of the villagers and to take the message of hope to them,” he said, adding that the community is one of the most neglected and his team would work to improve the standard of living once given the opportunity to represent the people of the town.
Asked about political affiliations with the major parties, Knights said that while they share President David Granger’s vision for Bartica becoming a model green town, they are 100% independent. He noted that his team is made up of visionary leaders who are competent and willing to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop the town. He pointed out that team includes school teachers, doctors, pharmacists, economists, business persons, housewives, farmers, gold miners, IT personnel, photographers, journalists and janitors.
Stabroek News was told that the team has a long lineup of seasoned politicians, including former member of parliament for the PNC Judith Blair.
Knights said their robust campaign is funded by donations from group members and well-wishers, also fund-raising activities by the group. BIGA is contesting the upcoming polls in nine constituencies in the first-past-the-post system and has provided a complete top-up list for the Proportional Representation section of the elections.
The team official launched its campaign on February 23.
