Government making strides to develop Region Ten
Georgetown , GINA, August 18, 2004
A GINA Feature
President Bharrat Jagdeo will tomorrow visit Linden Town and surrounding communities in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice ). The visit forms part of the President's outreach programme to various areas of the country. He recently visited North and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown where he listened to concerns raised by residents.
The visits follow closely on the heels of visits by the President to Region 6 ( East Berbice / Corentyne) and Region 2 ( Pomeroon/ Supenaam)
During the present administration's terms in Office, it has made efforts to reach out to all areas of Guyana through several outreach programmes. The President and his Ministers of Cabinet have visited areas in all Regions of the country and Region Ten is included in the areas targeted for development.
Recently, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Harripersaud Nokta, visited Ituni and other areas to inspect the Ituni power plant as well as to commission the Old England Health Post and the new Watooka Day Primary School .
Linden and other areas in the Region were targeted for alternative development projects following the decline of the bauxite industry in the 1980's. Subsequently, the present Government injected $815 M in LINMINE after the Enterprise failed to recover from its economic crisis. The Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) was designed to advance the Region's infrastructure. It was also geared to reduce unemployment. The programme was an agreement between Government and the European Union. LINMINE has since been privatized.
Under LEAP, the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF), a credit facility, has been designed and will provide small loans for business development in Region Ten. This is to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in small businesses and to create employment.
On July 30 last, the delegation of the European Commission and Government signed a $418 M agreement to establish the fund, which, other than providing loans on small and medium scales, will also be able to maintain viability. The fund will be run by a financial institution with a branch location in Linden . LEAP continues until 2009.
Other projects have been implemented in the Region, including the rehabilitation of the Wismar Market, under the Urban Development Programme (UDP).
In the education sector, several projects have been completed, including the Linden Foundation Secondary School . The Kwakwani Secondary School was also rehabilitated at a cost of $45.2 M.
The Linden Technical Institute's science laboratory has been extended and in this year's work programme for the region, the Ituni/ Kwakwani road is slated for rehabilitation.
Last year, a new Interim Management Committee (IMC) was installed after the Linden Town Council was dissolved following political consultation and so far, the Committee has been putting favourable measures in place to develop the Town.
Development in Amerindian Villages in the Region has been ongoing as well. New village offices were recently opened at Great Falls and Malali and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has been moving to ensure that indigenous villages in the Region are demarcated. Meetings on land issues have been held in a number of villages, including Wiruni.
This year, the budgetary allocation to the Region is $103.7M and a number of projects are expected to be completed by year-end.
The bridge across the Hymara Creek is slated for rehabilitation this year as well as the lower flat of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Mackenzie and the RDC sub-regional office at Kwakwani. In addition, the Amelia's Ward student's Hostel will be completed among other projects.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2004