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Oct 04, 2015 APNU Column, Features / Columnists
By David Granger
The Upper Demerara-Berbice Region, with a size of 19,387km², is bigger than the State of Kuwait. It is centrally, uniquely and strategically located with borders with six other regions–the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara; Demerara-Mahaica;
Mahaica-Berbice; East Berbice-Corentyne; Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Potaro-Siparuni–and is the mainland route to the Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo Region. It is serviced by air, road and river links and is Guyana’s real gateway to much of the hinterland and, indeed,the rest of South America.
The Region is best known as the source of the country’s bauxite but it is also a significant source of timber. The Region has made its mark on the cultural and tourism scene as the legendary home of the national jubilee–Mashramani–and the Rockstone Fish Festival. The agricultural potential of its vast intermediate savannahs and fertile riparian farms is still largely untapped and its tourism is underdeveloped.
Upper Demerara-Berbice, no doubt, is a Region which is rich in resources but development has been hindered because many residents remain poor. Pervasive poverty among the common people is one of the main impediments to progress. The standard of living–measured by the cost of essential goods, net household income, life expectancy, access to health care and human safety–is low for many residents.
A Regional Democratic Council (RDC) led by A Partnership for National Unity + The Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), working together with the business community, civil society investors and the influential diaspora will transform the Region’s promises into production and prosperity for the people.
THE ‘OLD’ PLAN
The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration did indeed promise a five-year development plan many years ago. Its objectives were claimed to be the reduction of the Region’s traditional dependency on mining and the achievement of long- term economic diversification and collaboration between the state, the private sector and the community.
That plan had targeted the agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, tourism, information communication technology and mining sectors. It proposed four ‘fast-track’ initiatives in the agriculture, tourism, forestry and manufacturing sectors, designed to accelerate growth. It focused on four social sectors– youth, health, education, water and housing – to complement the economic-based sectors. It sought to address issues–such as public administration, investment, gender, health and the environment– that would have a direct bearing on development.
The PPPC administration, however, abandoned the Plan. Residents are now ready for a new plan to help the Upper Demerara- Berbice Region escape from the poverty trap.
Your government has a clear mission for a ‘new’ plan that will focus on education, employment, the environment, the economy, physical infrastructure and public services and it will bring that plan to fruition.
THE ‘NEW’ PLAN
Educational attainment, an essential element in economic recovery, is below expectations. It has been affected adversely by the large number of dropouts from the primary and secondary schools and the large number of failures at the National Grade Six Assessment examinations. Some classrooms are congested and without adequate furniture; some are physically unsafe or insanitary and repairs too these are incomplete. Our administration will rectify the problems in the Region’s schools to raise the level of attainment.
Employment opportunities for the large number of school- leavers are few. The presence of the Russian Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (RUSAL) and the Chinese Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. (BMGGI) and Bai ShanLin (BSL) companies has provided only slight relief. These companies, however, have been plagued by several labour issues, some of which remain unsettled. The PPPC Government never fulfilled its promises of new investments. The proposed school of mining never materialized. Qualified young people feel obliged to migrate to other regions in search of work.
Your government plans to expand employment opportunities, especially for young school leavers.
Environmental security is never far from the surface. Occasional bouts of extreme weather have led to serious flooding. Collaboration among the Regional Democratic Council, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Linden Town Council has brought some relief through the clearing of canals and drains to alleviate flooding. Heavy rainfall, however, occasionally inundates homes, farms and roadways. Sections of the Ituni-Kwakwani roadway are susceptible to being flooded, bringing traffic between the mining communities to a halt. Swollen creeks sometimes overflow their banks and flood communities. Parts of Kwakwani have been known to be under water for several days.
This administration will put in place measures to protect residents from environmental hazard.
Economic prospects have never been indoubt. Linden, the Region’s administrative centre, has been recognized as a potential hub for commerce, communications and services. The Region can profit from its favourable location and the construction of the US$5M Takutu River bridge between Bom Fim in Brazil and Lethem in the Rupununi. Brazilian entrepreneurs have been entering Guyana for decades to exploit this country’s mineral wealth, facilitated by the Lethem-Linden road. Brazilian investors from the SEBRAE Group-Brazil met with the Linden business community in 2010 to commence commercial cooperation and business development.
Your government will restart the initiative to invite investors into the Region.
Economic experiments such as the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF)–the successor to the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) have been starved of refinancing, thereby depriving many poor of the opportunity to escape from the poverty trap.
Physical infrastructure throughout the Region is inadequate and is a serious impediment to progress. The Linden-Ituni- Kwakwani and the Lethem-Linden roads are in a poor state. Residentscomplainthat,owingtothealmostimpassableroads insomeareas,mini-bus drivers charge higher fares and some road trips that should take 90 minutes can take up to 5 hours.
Lindeners who want to go to Lethem or Mahdia have to travel to Georgetown to join a bus, which returns through Linden. The withdrawal of the Berbice river-boat service has affected agricultural production and marketing in the upper Berbice River.
Central government will work with the regional government to improve the Region’s infrastructure.
Public services, particularly heath, have also suffered. The main regional hospital–the Linden Hospital Complex –needs electro-cardiogram and ultra-sound technicians to operate its imaging equipment. River ambulances must be provided to service the riverine areas such as Calcuni, Kimbia, Wiruni and Sand Hills and road ambulances must be made available for this immense but under populated Region.
LAND OF PROSPERITY
The Upper Demerara-Berbice Region will not remain a land of ‘promise.’ It will become a region of ‘prosperity’ under a Regional Democratic Council, working in concert with the Central government.
Your government plans to create the conditions for a ‘goodlife’ for all residents of this great region. It is committed to unlocking the Region’s potential and transforming it from a land of ‘promise’ to one of ‘prosperity.’
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