National Task Force Commission highlights progress-  youths have role to play, attitudes need changing

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 18, 2017

The National Task Force Commission (NTFC) for project Restore Guyana, highlighted the progress and challenges from the period 2015-2017 and identified area proposals for the 2018 budget allocation at a press briefing on Friday, at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

NTFC Chairman, Major General (ret’d), Joseph Singh listed the sequence of projects and events for the past two years, which included visits from the Dutch–Disaster Rapid Response Assessment Team of Holland students of Delft University with the NTFC for a drainage model in Georgetown and visits and consultations by the NFTC in all the regions.

According to Singh, during the two-year period, the Task Force Commission engaged in a number of road repairs along the East Coast, Demerara and in Parika. The river defences in Mahaica and Unity Foreshore were also reinforced.

The National Drainage Authority Technical Committee has undertaken a series of major drainage works within Georgetown. The upgrading of solid waste sites and the Buxton recreational facilities and the construction of reservoirs in Region Nine were among some projects undertaken.

He noted the Welfare Management Committee in the fourth quarter of 2017 will begin documenting street dwellers. They (street dwellers) will be assessed by professionals with the aim of relocating them whilst facilitating counseling and therapy.

When presenting some of the challenges faced by the commission, the Major General said, “I think we are dealing with attitudes; we are dealing with getting people to get out of this mindset “This is my turf and I need to guard it zealously,” and recognising the need for integrated planning and proper consultation, getting the public on board, dealing with various agencies in Georgetown,” he said.

Singh stressed, young people have a part to play in the maintenance of the work undertaken by the Task Force Commission. The maintenance is not confined to only people who are working or the contractors. The schools have a role to play.” “

He further stated, values need to be instilled in young people through their homes, schools and religious organisations. “They all have to play a role in rebuilding ethical behaviour, changing attitudes, looking at social cohesion…this is not a political issue. We all live in an environment and we would like that environment to be clean.”

Singh highlighted that the Task Force Commission has also identified several future projects including the possible development of landfill sites at the old clay brick site, Belle Vue, Canal No.2 and in Mabaruma.

 

 

By: Crystal Stoll