Albion residents get one-on-one meeting with Agri Minister

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha hosted a community meeting with residents of Albion, Berbice on Saturday to provide them with an opportunity to have matters affecting them addressed.

While speaking to residents, Minister Mustapha said he wanted to make the activity a regular feature where he can meet persons on a one-on-one basis to discuss challenges.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha addresses Albion residents

Although we have been going out to different areas across the country and hold community meetings, I thought forums like these are important because we can have a one-to-one with people who have individual issues too.”

Minister Mustapha acknowledged that not all matters raised would fall within the purview of his Ministry. Therefore, in addition to representatives from the agriculture agencies, those from other Government agencies including the National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Lands and Surveys
Commission also attended the exercise.

Minister Mustapha also told the residents of the Budget measures and how they would benefit. He added that the Cabinet has said it has ‘no objections’ to road projects valued millions of dollars that would benefit the community.  Although the Ministry will send its technical officers to monitor the works, the community will also monitor the project.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha meets with Albion residents.

What the President has instructed that the residents in the community be provided with a copy of the Bill of Quantity, a blank Bill of Quantity so that you can know the scope of work because many times when we execute work around the communities and around the country, residents are complaining that sometimes the works are substandard.”

Further, the Minister noted that the Government would continue to engage the residents to team up with them on development.

“We want to form that partnership and we want to work with you and we will continue to look at problems that are affecting you, that are affecting the community so that we could resolve these problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, several persons who met the Minister and the team expressed gratitude for the help they received.

“It’s a good initiative and we think it shoulda continue, other Ministers shoulda come around like Minister of Public Works, Minister of Local Government, et cetera,” Mr. Michael Indardat said.

Mr. Phillip Rose

Another resident, Mr. Phillip Rose noted the importance of such outreaches. “We need this to be ongoing so that people matters and their problems can be addressed and I hope that the Minister and his team and the Government on the whole can continue doing this because the time has come where there is a lot of problems there is a lot of needs in the community and when you can leave your office and come and walk with the people and see what is affecting them you will be in a better position to address the issue,” he said.

The Minister is hoping to host other outreaches to different parts of the region soon.

CATEGORIES
TAGS