Seniors welcomed the Multi-Ministry Outreach

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Senior citizens were not excluded from the ministerial outreach held at the Square of the Revolution on March 7.

Maybell Portsmouth, a resident of Friendship-Buxton was seated since 7 am. The 75-year-old pensioner said that she was happy to be part of the event. She was optimistic that she would be able to enrol her nephew in the Guyana Defence Force and have some of her disparate electricity bills addressed.

For 64-year-old Mrs. Fanfare, who accompanied her friend, it was “high time” that the government understand that officials needed to “keep in touch with the people, whether they are supporters or not.”

The outreach was, “a very good start …since it would assist a majority of people,” 62-year-old Pansy Ashton noted. She advised that similar outreaches be held at “least every six months” in communities countrywide. The Sophia resident said the government has done a lot for her community and called on young people to appreciate what was being done. She also advised them to get registered and vote.

David Ramdass, travelled from a settlement 18 miles up the Demerara River to attend the exercise. For the 70-year-old, the turnout for the event was a signal that despite the good work that the government has been doing, much still needed to be done. The former headmaster said he was there to get information on his pension which was overdue for more than 25 years. He explained that he had written to the Ministry of the Presidency and received a reply, advising him to attend the outreach.

Retired educator Sheryl James and soon to be 70 years old, said the day’s activity was “worth it”. She collected a lot of information (publications) to share with the students who attend her lessons. She also was happy to report that her problems with the National Insurance Scheme were addressed.

The seniors were among many others seated comfortably under tents awaiting service or being served by ministry and department officials since the early hours of the morning.

Opening the outreach, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that it would not be a “one-off event” adding that similar activities will be conducted in communities countrywide.

More than 22 ministries and government departments were represented at the outreach which attracted thousands of persons with various issues to resolve.

Story and image: Paul Mc Adam.