His assessment came shortly after concluding a very hectic but successful two-day visit to Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) over the weekend where he met residents of various communities at the grassroots, religious and administrative levels, in a committed effort aimed at addressing some of their imminent concerns and problems.

"Our support is very strong on the ground...people's spirits are high and I'm very glad about that, in spite of all that I've been hearing support-wise.

"And the Government has tremendous goodwill among the people," President Jagdeo told reporters Sunday night while crossing the Berbice River on the ferry vessel from New Amsterdam to Rosignol as he concluded his visit to East Berbice.

In spite of detractors who are bent on stirring up trouble, "we are going to persevere", the President assured Berbicians.

"Every single day that we talk, democracy is under threat because the PNC promised to make the country ungovernable.

"They never give us a chance to run this country smoothly.

"While we are open to dialogue and discussions and we have to work with the opposition on national issues, we're not going to give in to such a stage where we can't manage this country or we lose power just like that or hand it over to them," President Jagdeo assured.

The President noted that he is aware of most of the problems that the residents are faced with and gave the assurance that his Government is just as concerned about these problems and is working assiduously towards solving them.

He also indicated that he is not too satisfied with some officials in the Housing Ministry and said that moves are under way to get rid of some incompetent and corrupt officers from that ministry.

Commenting on several complaints and allegations being levelled against some officials from the Housing and Water Ministry, Mr. Jagdeo said: "There are some officials that I am not happy with."

"In fact, in addition to the one who was fired (recently) I think there are a few others who may have to go but I want to develop all the information before we fire them", he said.

On Saturday, the President met religious leaders from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths at the Albion Sports Complex where he briefed them on the current crime situation in the country and listened to their suggestions and recommendations in working together in the anti-crime fight.

"The reason why I met with the religious group is because a number of religious leaders have been calling me and offering suggestions, saying that they are praying for the country...some of the religious leaders requested a meeting with me, so rather than meeting with a small group, I thought it was better to meet with a large representative group from the major religious faiths in Guyana," he told reporters.

Mr. Jagdeo said he encouraged the religious groups to work along with their communities through the temples, mosques and churches and to try to do more counselling because there is a lot of fear out there among citizens.

He said he also encouraged the religious leaders to talk to parents and encourage them not to expose their children to the violence and the graphic images that are shown sometimes obscenely on some TV stations or in the newspapers.

This can traumatise the young ones, the President stated.

In this regard, he urged parents not to discuss the crime and rumours in front of their children since they become fearful, causing some of them to even wet their beds at nights.

The President also met the business community, listened to their concerns and urged them to do several things, including working on new initiatives such as coming together as a group and have a little unit that operates around the area that can give an early warning to the Police if anything goes wrong.

According to Mr. Jagdeo, some of the Berbice businessmen told him they didn't agree with the recent 'shut-down' to protest the crime wave (organised by businessmen mainly from Georgetown) "because it couldn't solve any problem".

"...and I said to them that I am happy that they took that stand and didn't follow the pack," he added.

The President also noted that certainly the "vibes on the ground" in some areas are not the same as vibes he has been getting from others which suggested that everything was okay.

"Yes, I've been given misleading information about the situation on the ground in relation to some specific issues such as water, housing and D&I (Drainage and Irrigation) which are three main problem areas and I intend to address them...," the Guyanese Head of State said.

"I now know exactly what's happening on the ground and I personally wanted to talk to people and get a vibe from them," he told reporters.

"I want to see the situation for myself on the ground, because the reports are telling me that things are getting well, but I've been getting different vibes from the grassroots level," Mr. Jagdeo said.

The President noted that sometimes people run away with the idea that every part of the country has the same concerns but said this is not true.

"Sometimes you run away with the idea that every part of the country has the same concerns; that they are all traumatised by crime, etcetera.

"But different communities respond differently, especially those that are a little bit more isolated and away from the madness that takes place on the East Coast and in Georgetown," he said.

Residents made several complaints about the problems they encountered with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

The President noted that there are some grave problems with the NDCs right across the country.

"Right across the country we are getting problems with many NDCs and it's harming the Government because we take the heat for things they do. Some people work hard and that's the problem.

"I don't want to taint everyone by making blanket statements but some people are really atrocious and some are corrupt and some don't work and...and we have to find a way of dealing with it even before Local Government elections," he said.

The President also urged Berbicians to work together to develop and protect their communities.

"Some people have to a tendency to complain but they don't want to be part of solutions and if you don't organise then you can't solve things..."

He said that when he was going to Region Six, people were trying to persuade him from making the trip since they felt the bandits were in Berbice and are hiding out behind New Amsterdam.

"But I said 'No'. I'm coming out here...they were worried for me to come out in the dark but I am not worried because whatever happens, we are not giving up; (and) in many ways there is a political design behind this and the only way we will give power up is when the people take it from us, not by any other force.

"If they kill one of us, another person will take over but the party will remain strong, so I am not worried about that too much," he said as he addressed residents of Black Bush Polder during one of several community meetings.

He also told residents there that the Government is trying to decentralise more and more things (services) to Berbice "like we are doing in Essequibio and we will do in Linden so that people who live in outlying areas don't have to travel to Georgetown for everything".

"Already we are doing some passports and stuff like that and as soon as I get back to Georgetown I will push them to get birth certificates and marriage licences and death certificates and everything that people can get in Georgetown - you will get it right here in Berbice," he said to the applause of Berbicians.

The President also urged people to join the Guyana Police Force pointing out that the Force is currently recruiting personnel.

He acknowledged that the saddest part of his trip was in his meetings with the relatives of those persons who have been gunned down during the current crime wave.