PPP/C Gov’t committed to meeting the needs of the people

─ Minister Croal tells Region Two residents

As the Government continues its outreach to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal told residents of Charity that the PPP/C Administration is committed to meeting the needs of all Guyanese.

Minister Croal said the Government will continue to meet the people through any means necessary.

“We are here, primarily for one purpose, as part of our Cabinet, as part of our engagement with communities, as part of problem solving to ensure that at all times we stay connected to the ground, we stay connected to you, the people.”

The housing minister said some $40 million has been allocated to commence infrastructure works at Buxton and St. Joseph, Charity. Works on access bridges and roads to the new housing developments are also expected to commence shortly.

He said in 2022, some $628 million will be expended for the upgrade of several roads and bridges in the Old and New Charity Housing Schemes.

Minister Croal was accompanied by Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag, MP. During brief remarks, Minister Parag shared similar sentiments. She assured residents that they will be continuously engaged.

“We are committed, and continue to commit to you the people that we will put our ears on the ground, all that means, that we want to hear from you yourselves what the issues are and then determine how we will address those issues…that’s how we are moving forward. So, Essequibo this is not just us coming here and stopping at this point, ministers will continue to address your concerns throughout the next five years,” she said.

Both Ministers used the opportunity to highlight planned projects and programmes for their respect sectors. During the meetings, residents raised several concerns and were assured that they would be addressed.

One such issue was that of Mr. Granville Gomes, who said he is satisfied that his age-old issue will be resolved. He told Minister Croal that after 18 years of living on a plot of land, he and his family are now being evicted.

Mr. Gomes related that after being given the “royal run around”, he was given a plot of land and had started filling it with sand before he commenced building. However, the works were stopped.

Minister Croal explained that a decision was taken to stop the works after concerns were raised. He however assured Mr. Gomes that he will be compensated for the money expended.

“He told me directly, he go see about Friday time he will look into the problem, and that he will see that he will get a land around in the same area [in] the new scheme,” Mr. Gomes told DPI.

Similarly, Mr. Enoch Hoyte is happy that he had the chance to raise his concern with the Government Ministers.

“I came out this morning to talk about what is bothering me and I am happy I did. Minister, took my complaint and I look forward to know that they will do something with [the] community for next year.”

Ministers Croal and Parag are part of a larger Cabinet contingent being led by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in the region for the next two days.

Residents across the Essequibo Coast will have the opportunity to raise their concerns across all sectors with the assurance that those issues will be addressed. This is a demonstration of the PPP/C Government’s commitment to inclusive governance.