Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 13, 2015 News
By Jarryl Bryan
Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, visited Port Kaituma, Region One on Thursday and the first hand experience of the deplorable roads and poor infrastructure has prompted her to acknowledge
that the community suffered from years of neglect.
During a community meeting with residents after visiting key areas, Ferguson also revealed that Engineer with responsibility for Hinterland Roads, Naeem Mohamed, had submitted a proposal to the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration some years ago.
“I met with one of my engineer’s (Wednesday), who has responsibility for hinterland roads and he said to me that some time ago he did a proposal to have major road works to be done here in Port Kaituma.”
She noted that the proposal was lying somewhere and would have to be revisited by Government. She also observed that the 2016 budget would contain provisions for Port Kaituma not accommodated in the 2015.
It was also revealed by the Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO), Susanah Saywack, that while central government allocated sums to several regions for road works, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) did not get the funds.
Ferguson, alongside Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, and Advisor to Allicock, Mervyn Williams, shared the panel during the community meeting. Minister Ferguson, who took the lead throughout the meeting, responded to other concerns as well.
Other concerns
Other issues included the re-opening of mining lands; regularisation of the community; erosion of the Port Kaituma waterfront; poorly managed garbage collection systems; exploitation of workers; poor healthcare facilities; and inadequate water supplies.
In response to complaints about the water supply, the Assistant Regional Executive Officer also revealed that a proposal for a well has been included in the submissions for the 2016 budget. She noted that this could not be accommodated in 2015 because of time constraints.
She urged the residents to remain patient and alluded to the “mess” which was inherited from the previous administration. However, she noted that the Government is working in the interest of Port Kaituma residents.
She observed that Government had acquired a mobile asphalt plant, which had to be deployed into Region Ten to do corrective road works.
“What (can be done) is to identify the roads which should be given priority. And I can assure you that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will work in your interest so that Port Kaituma gets proper roads.”
Electricity
Ferguson spent the entire day in the community. Her visits included the Port Kaituma Community Hospital; the KPL Power Plant; and the new Port Kaituma Hospital, which is currently under construction.
During all of these visits, Minister Ferguson assessed the conditions of infrastructure, particularly the roads. In regards to these roads, Minister Ferguson expressed great displeasure at their state and noted that they would have been the product of years of neglect.
At KPL, Minister Ferguson spent more than an hour discussing problems at the power plant with Shawn James, KPL’s Chief Executive Officer. James outlined the problem areas, including constant blackouts and issues with engines.
He explained that currently, Port Kaituma residents are only able to access electricity from 5:00pm to 7:00am each day, due to engine problems. Though KPL has three engines, only one is currently functional; the other two engines are down while repairs are being conducted on one of them.
When Kaieteur News visited the Port Kaituma Secondary School, the school has been without electricity for quite some time. This is despite them having the amenities of most modern schools.
James indicated that when the remedial works are completed, Port Kaituma residents will have 23 hours of electricity. James, however, stated that the residents, particularly the business persons, were reluctant to pay their bills due to the infrequent electricity.
There are just over 600 residences on the KPL power grid, James added. He further said that while outlying areas have no access to electricity, KPL is looking to extend and provide a secondary supply of electricity.
In response, Minister Ferguson emphasised that the issues of the past needed to be resolved today. She noted that while the new administration had a herculean task of fixing old and inherited problems, it was nonetheless ready to rise to the challenge for the sake of the Guyanese public.
“We’re a new administration and I prefer for us to be straight,” Minister Ferguson stressed to James. She went on, “At the end of the day, it’s not about you and I; it’s about the people here in Port Kaituma and ultimately the entire country.”
She said that cooperation is necessary for the betterment of the region.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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