Essequibo …
A county moving forward
A GINA Feature
Government has over the years placed much emphasis on bridging the disparity between the ten Administrative Regions and the Capital City- Georgetown.
Once, Guyanese who lived in the far-off regions, were unable to boast of modern amenities. This has changed. Almost every Government service is available in the three counties of the country: Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice, eliminating the time-consuming and costly exercise of travelling to the Capital.
Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), in the county of Essequibo , on Guyana 's western side, is no exception to the Government's focus. This Region, like the others, has seen its share of development.
In 2000, months after H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo became President, a Cabinet Outreach was conducted to Essequibo .
There several promises were made by the new President to ensure that key services are provided in the Region.
One of the requests was a fire station. In 2003 October, Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj commissioned the new fire station and an access bridge costing $24M. The first Fire Station on the Essequibo Coast was built at Anna Regina, on the site which once housed the People's Militia.
The project, funded by the Government, stems from a promise by Government to enhance life for Essequibians by decentralizing Government services, bridging the disparity between the capital city and the Administrative Regions.
Restoring infrastructure in communities, the Head of State promised Essequibians to rehabilitate the road along the Essequibo Coast . Fulfilling this promise, the road eted at a cost of approximately US$11M.
The Anna Regina Town Council and residents were promised a new building to house the municipality. The Town Hall was rebuilt. In October 2002, a $54M modern structure was handed over to the municipality. It was funded under the Urban Development Programme (UDP).
Essequibo, like the other counties of Guyana , has derived much benefit from Government's programmes. Among these are a new $10M wharf at Charity, a $4M multi-purpose centre that offers Government services, improved markets, drainage, schools, facilities under the President's Youth Choice Initiative, the country's first ever paddy drying facility, social services and monetary allocation to the Region.
Additionally, in the Education Sector, the country received its Technical Institute, following a promise made by President Jagdeo. The ETI offers tech voc studies, academics and information technology to hundreds of Essequibians and was built by Government at a cost of $92M.
The ETI was established in March 2001 and offers courses including block laying and concreting , carpentry and joinery, architectural drawing, computer science, electrical installation, agricultural machinery, welding, mechanical fitting and metal machining. Persons are trained at both full and part-time classes. The Technical Institute is located at the Industrial Site, Anna Regina.
An integral part of Essequibo is the many riverain communities along the Pomeroon River . To ensure easier access to transportation from their villages to the Essequibo Coast , Government provided transportation to several of the communities.
Among the beneficiaries are persons in need of medical attention and school children who have to paddle long distances to access adequate health care and to attend school.
In 2002 October, President Jagdeo presented four boats and engines to the Health Care Workers of St. Monica, Wakapoa, Akwani and Karawab Health Posts. The boats were presented to the communities under the President's Youth Choice Initiative Project. The Regional Administration supplies gasoline for the communities for their trips.
Essequibo is predominantly an agricultural area, with large scale rice cultivation. In January 2002, President Jagdeo announced an agreement reached by Government, the Guyana Association of Bankers and the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) for rice farmers who owe a principal debt to various banks of $10M or less from August 2001. Essequibo farmers benefited from this.
Government's concern for the farmers who are facing financial problems, among other difficulties within the sector, led to prolonged negotiations guided by the Institutional Financial Act. The relief package provides for waivers on interests on non-performing loans with outstanding principals of $10M or less, and for 25 percent of the principal to be suspended and eventually written off over an agreed period, if the debt is being satisfactorily serviced. Interest rates on the rescheduled loans will be calculated at a minimum of ten percent per annum, subject to the six-month average of the Treasury Bill.
Later, the $15M seed paddy facility was built at Anna Regina. It provides a central point where farmers can dry, clean and store seed paddy. The facility was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Building Community Capacity Project (BCCP). It was executed by the Partners in Rural Development.
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