President Irfaan Ali yesterday commissioned the rehabilitated Burnham Boulevard in Mocha Arcadia and pledged support for a series of improvements including repairs to the Barnwell Road, an announcement greeted with broad approval from residents.
The visit to the East Bank Demerara community was politically significant as it is a stronghold of the opposition APNU+AFC and the rehabilitated boulevard is named for the founder of the PNC, realities that rose to the surface during a subsequent meeting with residents. A total of $192 million has now been designated for road rehabilitation in the area, along with promises of additional infrastructural works.
In a clear reference to APNU+AFC Leader Aubrey Norton, Ali said “Some find joy in refusing to shake the hands of the president. I sleep well at night knowing I am doing my best to bring this country together…you will live in a Guyana of the future that will be cemented as One Guyana…I can lift any child in this room with the same love and affection as I would my own child”.
Speaking to residents at the Mocha Arcadia Primary School, Ali said that he understood that persons were told to boycott yesterday’s outreach and was glad that they did not because his being there was not political.
“I’m not here to tell you to vote for the PPP but I’m here to tell you to benefit from the PPP,” he said.
He asserted that while some may try to spew a narrative that his administration would be one that would ignore villages and communities that are strongholds of any other party, persons must assess this for themselves.
“I challenge anyone to do an audit and tell me where the sensational and stupid narrative of marginalisation comes from,” he said. Having moments earlier commissioned the former potholed-riddled Burnham Boulevard, alongside several ministers of government including Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson and Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, Ali said that his government’s focus on the area was to ensure that residents of all political spheres are taken care of.
Parag in her address prior to the President’s said that the Boulevard named for the PNC Founder Leader and late President Forbes Burnham, had for years been in a deteriorated state, with the former APNU+AFC government promising to fix it but never doing so.
“They campaigned that you will have that road done, that you would have relief. You would have that done but they didn’t do it,” she said.
She further announced, to thunderous applause, that the Barnwell area road will be fixed and the signing of a contract for this was done yesterday. “I walked the road myself, in the rainy season, to see what it was like, and it was horrible. I took that back to his Excellency and back to the Minister of Public Works and today you will witness a contract signing for the Barnwell Road,” she said.
Well and pump station
Other roads in the area will also be fixed along with the setting up of a well and pump station that will provide additional potable water to the village.
During yesterday’s meeting, residents lamented the state of the roads and singled out Barnwell where “cars won’t go in, buses won’t go in, even the ambulance won’t come.”
Pleas for help to rehabilitate the Mocha Primary School where the meeting was held were also voiced by two teachers. Among areas they noted needed addressing were the supply of fans to provide relief from the sweltering heat students endured daily, having an the internet system that all could access, and upgrading the dilapidated cupboards, some more than 22 years old.
Turning to the school’s field and basketball area, one teacher advanced the importance of children engaging in extra-curricular and recreational activities. She said that as the school’s athletics meeting is coming up, the children are forced to use the facilities of another school.
Young men in the area also have no place to practice their football or cricket games.
In relation to a differently-abled student whose wheelchair has to be lifted even to the lower classrooms, Ali said that he has asked engineers for there to be a ramp for easy access.
Ali assured that all the needs would be fixed soonest. “In terms of the school, the fans that is done. You will get that. The flat screen smart TV, we will work to get at least two available to you before the end of the month. The crammed classroom we will send the Minister of Education to evaluate and then make the necessary budgetary allocations if it is found that it needs extending. The differently-abled child, I will ask the engineers, the shortage of the staff the ministry is working with that”, he said.
One female resident told the President that problems faced by house allottees were that they have not yet been given titles to their properties. She lamented that if they needed financing of any sort this could not be had and it was making it difficult for them to expand.
Difficulties in agriculture expansion and getting shade houses or lands for youth to work were also aired and Ali said that some 100 acres had been set aside. He announced that he would ask Demerara Bank Limited to visit the area so that persons can enquire about non-collateral loans which the entity gives for agriculture purposes.
Faced off
Ali faced off with the Mocha/Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) chairperson who took to the floor and told the President that he believes that the NDCs across the country that are controlled by the APNU+AFC coalition were being maligned. He also said that “our NDC does not have the capacity to operate on its own.”
“Notify every community that the Government of Guyana will be working with every citizen, every household,” Ali responded.
The Chairperson then asked if the NDC could be presented with a bobcat. To which Ali replied, “Next time you get the bobcat you will tell me you need fuel,” as he pointed out that roads and rehabilitation projects are being done.
The Chairperson continued, “Sir we understand all that you say you would do…if all the NDCs in Region 4 is issued…” at which point Ali appeared to be confused about what he was referring to.
The man nonetheless went on and began saying something about NDCs but was again cut short. “When you have 17 NDCs in Region 4,” was all he could put in.
Ali interrupted saying that he has a development agenda that was free of politics and was taking the entire nation with him.
“This four NDC that I am speaking about is controlled by the coalition, which Mocha is a part of, and we have to understand Mr. President…” the Chairman rebutted.
A seemingly incensed Ali stopped him short and stated, “It is an insult for you to tell these people that their lives is controlled by the coalition. No one’s life is controlled by anyone but God. Take that and take it to the bank and bank it. I am here. I am here. Let me tell you something. Let me stand and tell you something today: I am here as the President of Guyana and I dare not take my eyes and pass these people and tell them that their lives are controlled by the PPP government. Never! Nobody must tell you that. Your life is determined by you. You must determine where you want to go. I finish boss. Take that to the bank and bank it. I finish. “
