President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday visited several communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and promised that a high-level team will soon be established to address the vulnerabilities raised.
Accompanied by several government ministers, Ali and his team also handed out 1,100 hampers to residents hard-hit by the coronavirus lockdown. He also reiterated that before the end of this week a wide range of interventions will be announced to bring relief to vulnerable communities across the country.
“We will come up with a master list (of issues) plaguing the communities, which a taskforce will address. This activity will give us an idea of the magnitude of work your Government is expected to deliver on,” the President said, according to a release from the Office of the President. The President and his team visited Silver Hill, Kairuni, Loo Creek, Tigerbone, Banakari, Kuru Kuru College and Swan. Priority areas identified were access to potable water, electricity, health services, creation of jobs, land allocation and access to education for children in vulnerable communities, the release said.
“We are pleased to be back here with you and we want to work with you and reach out to all of you, including the young people, to be a part of the developmental agenda. We remember the promises that we made to you. We want to be able to understand your needs and to work with you in finding long term solutions,” Ali said.
He also committed to ensuring that Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand is briefed on the critical issues affecting the communities’ children’s access to education and learning material, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President also extended greetings on the occasion of Amerindian Heritage Month.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Amerindian Heritage [Month] and to say that you can be proud that five talented Amerindians were sworn-in as Members of the National Assembly to comprise the 12th Parliament as well as the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Lenox Shuman who is also of Amerindian descent,” the President said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Minister of Local Government and Development, Nigel Dharamlall and Advisor to the President on National Security, Captain Gerry Gouveia were also present during the visit.
A smaller team of officials also distributed hampers at Yarrowkabra and Waiakabra.
The distribution of hampers was to continue yesterday in the communities of Laluni, River’s View and St. Cuthbert’s Mission/Pakuri.
On Monday, the President and his team also visited several communities in East Berbice-Corentyne to take hampers to residents.
