Saying that his government has redirected $2.9 billion in the capital programme outside of the regional budget to be spent on developmental works in Region Six, President Irfaan Ali yesterday promised to forge ahead with plans at a rapid pace despite the economic challenges in order to ensure that the livelihoods of citizens are improved.
During a visit, in which he was accompanied by several ministers, Ali yesterday also announced that the distribution of the $25,000 per household COVID-19 cash relief has commenced in the region.
Ali visited the Line Path Community Centre Ground, the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground and Angoy’s Avenue Community Centre Ground in New Amsterdam, where he met with residents.
He pointed out some of the immediate improvements that were made since he took office. “We are doing all of this despite the economic challenges, despite the loss in revenue as a result of the pandemic, but we realised that we have to cut expenditure that was wastefully used in the past and return those monies back to the people, and that is what budget 2020 did,” he claimed.
Furthermore, for Region Six, the president said that the $2.9 billion will be used to aid in the region’s development works, “We are going to spend $2.9 billion in this region, capital expenditure, and these monies will be spent on community infrastructure, markets, agriculture development, schools, health centers, bridges, roads, playgrounds, not on dietary and entertainment in government,” he declared.
Ali asserted that Budget 2020 has created new hope and opened opportunities for Guyanese. “The private sector is back to work, back to the creation of jobs,” he added.
Turning his attention to sugar, the president said that his government’s investment in sugar is geared at making the industry sustainable. “The socio-economic impacts in the community are too important for us to ignore, and as I am here, let me say, too, that our commitment to the nurses has not weakened a single bit. As a matter of fact, our commitment to the nurses and every single workers in this country is strengthened and our commitment will be realised,” he added.
He then asked that workers be patient with the new government, as he stressed that $150 million was set aside for frontline workers. “Our police, our army officers, our public servants, our sugar workers, our farmers, our doctors, our nurses, they all deserve better and they will get better under the PPP/c government, but I ask the nurses, I ask the teachers, I ask all those who are working to give us a chance, to have some patience, do not let politics stray you away, we are going to deliver to you but we are coming from a broken system, a broken economy, things will get better and as things get better we will do more for you and we will make your lives much more comfortable.”
Meanwhile, he mentioned that they had received a request from residents who said that the Line Path Community Centre ground needed to be chipped, plowed and prepared, and that works were needed on the fence. “…And we are earmarking those resources to help you complete that project on this ground also,” he announced at the very ground yesterday.
During his visit to Port Mourant, he announced that total rehabilitative works costing $9.5 million would be carried out on that ground, with phase one starting with $2 million.
President Ali also told the residents that as part of an effort to create employment in the area, the Regional Chairman and Regional Executive Officer must “… work with the community to see as far as possible how we can engage the community in doing the work.”
During his visit to Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, the president assured that $1.2 million worth of rehabilitative works would be done on the ground at that location.
During his visit, the president was told that several streets were in need of rehabilitation works. As a result, the president stated that Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who was also present, would send a team to do an assessment on the roads in the area.
A staff member was identified on the ground to head the team to conduct the assessment.
Residents welcomed the initiative but some complained that government officials for many years now, have not visited the back of the area. Ali assured those gathered that the team will visit the back of the village and include that section in their assessment as well.
