Buxton/Friendship outreach to be hosted on Monday by Gov’t

Several government ministers on Monday, July 4, will have the opportunity to meet buxtonians and residents of other neighboring villages, to discuss developmental issues and other concerns, when government takes a major outreach to the East Coast Demerara community.

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, lead the exercise and fulfills a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali, when he visited the village last Tuesday. It was revealed that the meeting will be held at the Buxton Community Centre Ground from 10:00 am. The ministerial team includes, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C, Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Charles Ramson, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, and Public Affairs Minister, Kwame McCoy.

It was revealed that residents will be able to speak directly to the ministers in relation to health, business development, tourism opportunities, infrastructure, Information Communication and Technology, local governance, legal issues and opportunities for young people in the areas of culture, youth and sport.

The government disclosed that under the ‘One Guyana’ umbrella and ensuring that all Guyanese benefit from government services, the President had visited the community on several occasions.

Further, the community is sustained mainly by farming. Government, since taking office, has invested heavily in agriculture through its budgetary allocations. Additionally, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the community on numerous occasions to address issues such as drainage and irrigation which normally pose a problem to effective farming.

The government said last year, Minister Ramson committed $10M to develop the Buxton community ground where Monday’s meeting will be held. PM Phillips also visited the community, and donated lights to allow sporting activities to be held at nights.

The President had declared that government will be meeting and consulting with Guyanese countrywide on developmental issues. The President in his inaugural address to the 12th Parliament, had announced the establishment of a “One Guyana Commission” which will be spearheaded by the Prime Minister.

“An essential part of my government is inclusion. Stop being defined by race; stop being defined by politics. Start being defined by our one nationality and by our common love for our one country, let us lift it up together and by doing so, let us lift each other and ourselves, one people, one nation, one destiny,” President Ali said.

He added, “We must move our nation building from abstraction to action and lose not one more moment in doing it. Let us stand up for our one nation, our One Guyana, let us stand up for what we know in our hearts and in our minds to be right. Let us stand up for one identity, the Guyanese identity.”