Guyana does not need an election that is clouded in controversy – Min. Bulkan
DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 16, 2019
The Coalition Government wants a credible election where all eligible voters are given the opportunity to vote. This is according to the Minister of Communities, Hon. Ronald Bulkan.
Rejecting the claim that the government is ‘not running from elections’ he said: “nothing could be further from the truth”.
He was at the time speaking with residents of Betsy Ground and surrounding communities at a community meeting on Friday evening.
Minister Bulkan reminded that under the current administration Local Government Elections (LGE) were held for the first time in more than two decades. This, he asserted, shows that the government is serious about “putting people in charge of their own community development”.
He noted that this paves the way for local development without the central government having to establish interim management committees, as was the case when the former administration was in office.
Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams was also part of the community engagement. She reminded that the government has complied with all the court rulings. She added that it will continue to do so until the elections are held.
The minister boasted of the administrations successful four years in office. Guyana has been moving in the right direction, she noted, highlighting several major developments that have taken place in the Berbice area. These include the establishment of a passport office and the dismantling of criminal gangs for which she commended the police in that division. The school feeding programme and His Excellency, President David Granger’s Five B’s initiative were also highlighted.
Residents took the opportunity to air their concerns. One of the most pressing issues affecting residents is that of drainage and irrigation.
Additionally, residents complained bitterly about the local authorities who are representatives of the opposition who are willfully neglecting their duties and hindering development in several communities.
Minister Bulkan assured the residents that he has taken note all of their concerns and will work assiduously to have them addressed in the shortest possible time. He promised to revisit the area shortly to present a progress report to the residents on the issues raised.
The minister also conducted a community walkabout where he met residents and held discussions with them.