Min. Hughes resolves Berbicans’ issues at outreach
― the minister was present and prepared at the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ booth
DPI, Guyana, Friday, April 19, 2019
At the recently held Government Outreach in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), many residents took the opportunity to have their personal issues addressed, while others raised community concerns and there were those who praised the government for the numerous initiatives taken to improve the lives of Guyanese across the country.
The feedback on the ground, at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, was that most persons in attendance found the initiative highly convenient and helpful.
Adding to the many success stories heard coming out of the outreach on April 16, Ramesh Mohammed, who is a local businessman, had his story to tell.
He attended the outreach to have his issue addressed at the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ booth, where the minister was present and prepared.
Minister Catherine Hughes and her team were approached by Mohammed who sought answers on the procedures of gaining liberalisation in Telecommunications since he plans to establish new businesses in rural communities.
“For a while now I’ve been trying to go to the ministry. However, at the outreach, I had all my questions answered because everything was there, and I didn’t spend much time. I also received a positive answer,” ecstatic Mohammed stated.
According to the Ministry of Public Telecommunication’s website, “The legislation was designed to liberalise the fixed-line telephone market and it paves the way to end the exclusivity of fixed line, international voice and data services by one company, and ultimately to attract small to large scale investments to the ICT and telecommunications sector in Guyana.”
The presence of Minister Hughes, at her ministry’s booth, proved more than helpful to many as a group of Social Work students of the Tain Campus also took the opportunity to interact with her. Delroy Marks and his colleagues sought clarity about the setting up of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hubs in their communities, and opportunities available in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) training.
Consequently, from their encounter, both Marks and his colleague, Yuniesha Smart, have offered to volunteer, in their hometowns of Rose Hall and New Amsterdam, respectively, to promote the training programmes being provided by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.
“When I spoke to the minister, she told me that there are 40 ICT Hubs in Region 6, that I never knew of, especially in my town. So, we will be working hand-in-hand to promote the locations in our areas where the ministry’s training programmes are being provided,” Marks said.
The group also benefitted from some inspiring advice which the minister shared with them regarding their field of study which fueled admiration in Marks. “Minister Hughes is a woman of worth, she answered all our questions, and she gave us good advice as aspiring social workers. She told us the profession helps to create social change in our society.”
The government outreach, which was deemed a success by several who attended Region 6, will also be taken to Regions 3, 5 and 10 in the coming week. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity of meeting with the officials and raising your concerns, as you may very well be one of the many to have your issues addressed.
Alleya Hamilton.
Images: Department of Public Information.