‘Choose leaders that have your interest at heart’ – President Granger

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, January 28, 2020

The need for citizens to elect leaders that have their interest at heart was underscored by His Excellency, President David Granger at a massive rally at Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam on Monday evening.

The Head of State reminded that for many years, several East Berbice-Corentyne communities were neglected under the previous administration. Since the Coalition government took office in 2015, the PPP/C dominated RDC’s have attempted to stymie the central government’s plans to develop communities including New Amsterdam.

Despite this, the Region Six saw massive development under this administration. Among these were major upgrades to the New Amsterdam, Skeldon and Port Mourant Hospitals ensuring residents have more access to quality health services; upgrades to the education system; more students are attending school as a result of the Five-Bs programme which provides free transportation; students in the region are now benefiting from the hot meal programme. A Passport and Immigration office was established in Region 6 and a $30Milion Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission sub-office commissioned. The community of Angoy’s Avenue was regularized; and billions was invested in the construction of roads, bridges and upgraded water systems. Recently, nine farming groups within Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne received almost $20Million in micro-grants to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Outlining future development plans for the entire East Berbice-Corentyne area President Granger noted that the region will be transformed into a commercial hub with the development of a modern waterfront and a deep-water port. The establishment of manufacturing centres will also be developed and cottage industries advanced.  He also reminded that the government has a plan to restructure the sugar industry and the fact that the East Berbice Corentyne Estates were left intact.

“We are not shutting down the sugar industry, we are restructuring the industry so that it can become profitable…we need your sugar, we need your rice, we need your fish from this region.”

The Head of State noted that that the PPP/C is in the worse leadership crisis in the history of the party and is seeing a decline in its support base.

“The PPP is in serious trouble, we know that they are losing support, but at the same time, we must not take Region 6 for granted, we have work to do. This is an important region that can be developed if you have an RDC which is committed to development.”

Noting that in 2015, out of the 91,000 eligible voters in the region, only 68 percent cast their vote, President Granger reminded the residents to cast their vote on March 02, 2020.