Hundreds of persons showed up on Sunday at the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana’s (IDPADA-G) “One Stop Business and Family Welfare Conference.”
The IDPADA-G has been working to put in place programmes, outreaches and other activities that provide services to, and directly addresses issues confronting the African-Guyanese community.
During the conference held at the Dolphin Secondary School, about 300 persons were in attendance. Also present were Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, Chairman of the IDPADA-G Vincent Alexander, as well as council member Dr Norman Ng-A-Qui.
There were also representatives from several government agencies including the blood bank and the Small Business Bureau, among others.
Speaking with reporters, CEO of the IDPADA-G, Olive Sampson, said that Sunday’s conference was the first of eight. She highlighted the fact that a survey was being conducted during the conference to determine from those in attendance, the issues they were facing in relation to health care, discrimination by health care providers, access to medication and clean water among others.
The conference in itself, she noted, was a simple way of bringing the government to the people and preventing alienation between them and the people.
Broomes, in a brief address to those in attendance, encouraged persons to make use of the activities taking place at the conference and commended the fact that all the information was in one place. Jordan also gave encouragement, noting among other things, that “there is dignity in any kind of labour.”
As the conference got into full swing, a number of persons were observed seeking information as it related to birth certificates, housing, educational material and health screening.
Persons in the Sophia area are encouraged to turn out next Sunday, February 3, as a similar conference will take place in that area. IDPADA-G is to provide information on location and times.
