PM plugs ‘One Guyana’ initiative at Buxton handing-over ceremony

PRIME MINISTER MARK PHILLIPS MAGNIFIED HIS GOVERNMENT’S ‘ONE
GUYANA’ THRUST in delivering eight concrete poles and more than a dozen 1,000-watt
lamps for use at Buxton Community Centre Ground last week.
“We have what we call a ‘One Guyana’ approach to everything that we do. Every community
will be involved in our developmental initiative… all our developmental projects are people-
centred, whether its health, education, sports or infrastructural development; the entire Guyana
will benefit from our programmes,” Prime Minister Phillips explained during the handing over.
Phillips, a retired Guyanese soldier, urged residents to unite into smaller groups to effectively to
help manage the affairs of their community centre.
“As soon as possible, this ground will be rehabilitated, but what we need is for the community to
organise itself…to secure and maintain the facility that we provided for you. So, here is a case
where we are providing, but we want you to come on board in partnership with us, so what is
provided is available and maintained for the youths of your community,” the top government
official said.

The equipment PM Phillips handed over was purchased with funding from a $10M government
allocation to improve the public facility in Buxton. So far, 24 other community grounds that have
also received a similar allocation from the government for enhancement works.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson (Jr), said the Regional
Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) will manage the disbursement
of moneys for the facility.
“Only a portion of the money has been spent so far, the remainder of the money is at the
Regional Democratic Council. They are doing the procurement. So, today, for example, I saw
some horses on the field, which means that there are some structural integrity issues in relation to
the fence, so I’ve asked them to do a new fence there so that we wouldn’t have animals going on
the field,” Minister Ramson said.
He promised his ministry will donate a lawnmower to the community ground and will be
facilitating several other upgrades. Following the handing over, Phillips and Ramson toured the

ground with the residents to get a first-hand view of ongoing community works including
resurfacing of the street.