Ministers assess needs of Supply community during walkabout
─ ‘It’s a privilege to serve our people’ – ministers tell residents
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, July 13, 2019
A visit to at least one of the kokers in the community of Supply on the East Bank of Demerara, on Thursday afternoon, gave the Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, a glimpse of the infrastructure development that is needed in the area.
This stemmed from a walkabout in communities along the East Bank Public road, as part of government’s community engagements, where the ministers visited the small but well-populated community. Both Ministers then made their way up the main road passing through the community of Support and then Relief, before gathering at the Supply Primary School.
During opening remarks of the meeting, Minister Garrido-Lowe acknowledged residents’ presence and the opportunity to hear from them.
“We need more years to complete the development we have begun…,” she noted.
‘Mrs. McCasty’, as the villagers would refer to her, urged the ministers to look into the drainage situation in the community, but especially around the school where the meeting was being.
Farmer, Shawn Hickory echoed ‘Mrs. McCasty’ sentiments, calling for better drainage in Supply, primarily as his crops needed a steady supply of water.
Another resident shared her view that the community requires an ICT hub. “We need an ICT hub for the young people, we already have a building that could be used,” Gwendolyn Trotman explained.
Both Ministers assured residents that matters affecting them would be relayed to the relevant ministers of heads of departments to be addressed in the shortest possible time.
“We are here to listen to you…” Minister Cummings added.
The meeting concluded with both Ministers encouraging residents to utilise government services and grants that were available for those interested in starting a small business.