Stating that Region Six is poised for major development, President Irfaan Ali yesterday said that an Ogle-type airport will be built at Rose Hall and a sports stadium at Palmyra, Corentyne.
He also said that in the coming weeks residents of the region will benefit from 3,000 part-time jobs.
The President said that a new urban plan is being worked on and that they already have proposals with the financing for a new hotel, a mall, a private hospital “and many other commercial businesses that will generate employment and create opportunities here in the region. Those projects will commence very shortly.”
Ali said that “This is the type of visionary transformative thinking …that will take place here in Region Six.”
In terms of transport and logistics, Ali said that for the first time they are beyond the phase of only talking about a deep water harbour since they now have solid proposals and interests “in the construction of a deep-water harbour here in Region Six that will create thousands of jobs. There has been never a more exciting time for this region than now.”
He told the residents gathered that the foundation is being created for an “enormous transformation.”
Meanwhile, in addition to a state-of-the-art regional hospital for which construction is expected to commence this year, Ali also announced that an Ogle-like airport will be built at the Rose Hall, East Canje Berbice airstrip.
Ali said not only must residents have access to proper health care but that they have also taken a decision that health centres across Guyana will see upgrades – a walkway, waiting area and washroom facilities.
As part of a cabinet outreach in Region Six yesterday, Ali held three community meetings at Smithfield, New Amsterdam; Rose Hall, East Canje Berbice and Albion, Corentyne.
To the large gatherings at each location, he urged Berbicians to prepare themselves for the development which will soon come as according to him the 3,000 part-time jobs with persons earning $40,000 per month will materialize in a few weeks. Part-time jobs have also been announced on the Essequibo Coast as a means of easing the current hardships.
Ali also told Berbicians that the region will see the construction of two call centres which will result in major employment, especially for women and young people.
He also noted that they are developing a breakfast programme to the tune of over $50m that will see vulnerable children in every school in Region Five and Region Six receiving breakfast before starting their day of learning.
He said that Region Six will also be home to a Guyana National Training Centre at the Port Mourant Training Centre with phase one seeing an investment of over $160m.
“This is a centre that will train all the young people for the oil and gas sector. This is a centre that will house the hospitality institute for the country.”
Ali said that while they are working to develop the sugar industry they are also working to open up new lands with Region Six being identified as one of the areas to be a part of the Hemp Industry.
“Hemp is a very diversified and elevated product. We want to create an industrial hub around the hemp industry so we can produce the hemp oil, the construction material, the pharmaceuticals, massive business opportunities.”
Before the end of the year, works will also commence on widening the main access road from New Amsterdam to Corriverton, Ali said, pointing out that preparations to bridge the Corentyne River are continuing.
He then pledged “I am saying to you now that before the end of 2025 we are going to cut your electricity rate by 50% at least, that’s a commitment we are making, not a fairy tale land, real work, real work, not fanciful talk, hard work going behind the vision”, he stated.
Transport
The President yesterday told the gatherings that there are a few persons who were silent during the time Guyana’s democracy was being threatened in 2020 but are now extremely vocal believing that “they have the transport for Guyana” and want to decide on what should be done in terms of the oil sector.
Ali opined that those persons do not care for the interests of Guyana and its people, and have gone as far as to contact other countries on this matter.
The President then told the gathering that “everything is not rosy” but that they have to deal with the challenges. He asserted that changes must be made in the health care system.
He also pledged once more that old age pension and public assistance will attain the amount stated in the PPP/C manifesto.
“So this amount that you see here by the time we get there… will be three times higher”, he noted, adding that that is money being put back into the local economy.
In terms of issues surrounding women, Ali pointed out that over $50m has been spent regionally on training programmes for women. “We are investing in a safe home for women who are affected by domestic violence” he said, as he called on residents to work collectively to eradicate this scourge from society.
Residents at all three meetings complained about the need for work on the streets in their respective communities and based on these reports Ali said that today they will return to Cabinet to discuss how they will holistically look at community roads.
Meanwhile, at Canje, residents raised several issues about drainage and road works. According to the President, each resident who raised an issue will receive a call before the end of the week with an update while the matters dealt with are expected to be published.
At the New Amsterdam meeting, a retired nurse raised the issue of her running around for many years now to secure her Certificate of Title. Two hours after raising the issue with President Ali the woman received the title.
