Vice President promises 800 part-time jobs, major road enhancements for Region Two

On Tuesday, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, announced government’s aggressive move to
create some 800 new part-time jobs for persons living along the Essequibo coast, Region Two.
Dr. Jagdeo noted that the strategic plan will significantly supplement the income of a number of
households across the region. The Vice President was at the time engaging several rice farmers
in the auditorium of the Anna Regina Secondary School. “Before I leave here you will see an ad
come about for about 800 new jobs for people to get part-time work to supplement their family
income,” the VP said.

He continued, “We want to co-invest, that is, we will build the factory for people who would like
to set up businesses in this region. Already we are working with some people in ICT, we are
hoping to generate about 1,000 jobs.”  Dr. Jagdeo announced too, that government is seeking to
establish two major water treatment plants in the region, in keeping with the administration’s
promise to provide potable water to Guyanese nationwide. He said that citizens in Essequibo will
benefit from a US $30M state of the art hospital. “Most of the service that you are getting from
Georgetown hospital you will get right here,” he said.
He disclosed that the region will also see the establishment of major community thoroughfares.
“This region alone we are going to put $1B alone on community roads in this year’s budget,” VP
Jagdeo added. President Irfaan Ali late last year, had turned the sod for a new $2B multispecialty
hospital at Suddie. The medical facility is also part of the government’s wider agenda of
revolutionising the quality of healthcare in Guyana.
“We have set aside money for job programmes in the rural areas because we don’t have many
jobs in Berbice, here or in Region Ten. We have a lot of jobs in Region Three and Four because
everybody wants to invest in these areas,” he said. Meanwhile, some 250 grants will also be
distributed to small business owners. Accordingly, the government also plans to invest some
$600M to dredge the mouth of the Pomeroon river.
Additionally, hundreds of farmers are also set to benefit from farm to market roads, which will
open up acres of farm lands in the region.