Victoria residents highlight proposals for community development

July 7, 2019

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, July 7, 2019

Residents of Victoria village on the East Coast of Demerara have put forward proposals for community development to several government ministers.

In an interactive session on Saturday evening, villagers engaged the government officials who were willing to review the suggestions.

Attending the meeting was Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott.

Among the matter raised was the need for better infrastructure in the village such as street lights, roads and the desilting of drains, the rehabilitation of playgrounds, the construction of a new school building and issues in the area of farming and the sorting the issues of ancestral lands.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence at the meeting.

Responding to the matter of the upgrading of the playground, Minister Lawrence contacted the Director of Sport and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities during the meeting. Following her query, she received confirmation that the rehabilitation of playfields has been budgeted for in that area.

Regarding ancestral lands, she added, “President Granger has taken on this particular issue and has put a COI in place where there is a commission in place and coming out of that he has put in place what is now called a lands commission.”

It was reported that the construction of a new primary school is in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, Minister Adams-Yearwood has agreed to meet separately with Farmers of Agricola to address the many concerns they may have. This, she believes, will foster a more practical outcome to solutions sought after.

Also at the meeting, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson pledged to fund two road projects through his ministry’s budget before the end of the year.

“Two roads in this community, identify them, top one or the top two and I will get it done this year so the onus is on you. I know for sure it’s not on my budget, but the faster you identify them. I’ll get them done, and if there is any extra money, I’ll do three or four.”

Prior to the meeting held at the Victoria Primary School, some of the ministers took the time to walk about the village and see firsthand some of the issues that have been raised.