President expresses desire to build partnerships with every community

– Three housing settlements to be developed on Soesdyke-Linden Highway

Residents of Yarowkabra and Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway were told by President Dr Irfaan Ali that his Government wants to build partnerships to ensure that their development needs are aligned with the Government’s trajectory.

The statement was made by President Ali during walkabouts in the communities on Wednesday afternoon.

“We want to build a partnership with every community, build a partnership with the people of this country, you are the stakeholders of this country.”

It was disclosed that during the walkabouts and community meetings, various issues were raised by residents surrounding infrastructure, water, housing, education, agriculture and employment.

In an effort to address the issue of housing and squatting in the area, the President disclosed that three new housing settlements will be developed on the highway for new residents and to relocate squatters so they can have access to essential services in a regularised and structured way.

Ali said that a team from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) will return to the communities to discuss and consult with them, and to identify the areas where the housing settlements can be placed.

The Head of State also committed to rehabilitating and repairing roads in the communities. He said that this will be done through the Public Works Ministry and the residents. Residents will also benefit from work when the Government builds the first 100 homes in Silica City.

Further, to help farmers who are experiencing water issues on their farmlands, the President said that a team from the Agriculture Ministry will visit the area and clean the creeks to improve drainage and irrigation.

The residents raised concerns during the meetings about increased crime in the communities. To address this, the President noted that he will task the Guyana Police Force to have an expanded presence in the areas.

Ali also highlighted the infrastructural works being done.

“I know that there are difficulties in the water sector and we are working on finding solutions to those. For a matter of fact, on the highway we are drilling five new wells this year, we are working on community roads, but we are doing the community roads with a difference now because we want the people from the community to be involved in the building out of your own infrastructure.”

The Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn; the Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal; the Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall; the Junior Public Works Minister, Deodat Indar and the Public Affairs Minister, Kwame McCoy were also on the outreach.