Jagdeo 'totally' rejects Hoyte's Buxton plan
By Daniel DaCosta
Stabroek News
October 20, 2002
President Bharrat Jagdeo has said he totally rejects a $250M socio-economic plan proposed by PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte for Buxton.
Speaking with reporters yesterday at a press briefing at State House in New Amsterdam, Jagdeo said, "we cannot be held to ransom by any politician. You cannot put a price tag on peace. A lot of people have also rejected this proposal."
And he dismissed an article in Friday's edition of the Stabroek News in which it was stated that the Local Government Ministry was "studying" Hoyte's proposal. That statement was signed by Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Member of Parliament, Clinton Collymore. Jagdeo said: "obviously the Ministry is ill-informed and incorrect, I reject totally that proposal."
He was however quick to assure that his Government was willing to work towards solving the problems that confront the people of Buxton.
The village has been at the centre of attention because of numerous crimes committed by persons within.
There have also been many cases where bandits have fled to safety in the village. The government has contended that a lot of money has been invested in Buxton since 1992 and that the needs of other villages also have to be catered for.
Explaining his reasons for visiting Berbice, President Jagdeo said he will be commissioning the new market at Corriverton built under the Urban Development Programme (UDP), meet with the religious community and investigate problems of water supply and drainage and irrigation. According to him "the official reports I have been receiving on water supply indicate that all is well but the people on the ground are saying something else. We have also allocated a lot of resources to drainage and irrigation but there are concerns within the communities about the effective use of these resources. I have heard some disturbing reports about water supply in the region and this is why I have asked Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated, Paul Bonar and Minister of Water and Housing Shaik Baksh to be in the region this weekend in an effort to iron out the situation. If people are not doing their job then they will have to leave."
Touching on the crime situation, he remarked that "I understand the concerns of Berbicians who are fearful of going to Georgetown and this is a genuine fear but we are working on establishing greater security along corridors on the East Coast Demerara.
However, sometimes we still have problems despite the presence of the police and the army." Two Berbicians were gunned down on the public road outside of Buxton recently while on their way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
The President reiterated that the government was doing its best to upgrade the crime fighting capabilities of the police force noting that some $500M will be spent this year on equipment for the force. At the moment he said the prices of helicopters were being looked at. "I am convinced that the Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force are doing their best, but a lot of people are demonising them and accusing them of committing crimes." He also expressed concern over the fact that some people were not interested in seeing development take place. "You cannot complain about no jobs being available for young people and you do not create the climate or environment for development to take place."
Asked about the poor response to recruitment drives launched by the Police Force in the past, Jagdeo said fear affects recruitment. "People must however participate in the Guyana Police Force and the GDF if they want security. I have come to Berbice to also encourage people to join the two forces. It is a good career even though law enforcement officers are experiencing a bad spell." He also disclosed that a large sum will be spent on protective gear while some of the weapons ordered for the force have begun to arrive.
Addressing the issue of governance, Jagdeo said "the government, while paying attention to crime, also had a responsibility to continue the management of the country. We recently acquired US$400M for development projects across the country". The projects will include re-surfacing the highway in Region Five next year at a cost of US$25M, the construction of new concrete bridges across the Mahaica and Mahaicony rivers; supplying electricity to areas now without at a cost of US$25M; resurfacing the runway and improving the arrivals section of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and improvements in housing infrastructure to the tune of $40M. The Italian government, he disclosed, has also made available US$4 million for drainage and irrigation works. The water sector will benefit from a US$45 million, countrywide improvement programme.
Touching on GUYSUCO's Expansion Programme at Skeldon, the President said tenders for the new US$55M factory will close shortly and construction is expected to commence next year. Additionally, US$25M will be spent on agriculture under the programme. Government, he said, was putting together the guarantee for the bidders. "If we do not do this within seven years we will have to close the sugar industry." Referring to the long-awaited and much talked about bridge across the Berbice river, he said "we are still working to put together the financing for the bridge but we cannot work on both Guysuco's expansion and the bridge at the same time." The Caribbean Development Bank has meanwhile made available some US$25M to prepare 3,000 acres of land for sugar cultivation in Berbice.
Efforts, he said, were also underway to attract investors to Linden. Government, he disclosed, was working on an agreement which may see the establishment of an information technology project at Linden by a Barbados firm potentially providing hundreds of jobs. Government has also received two expressions of interest for the establishment of a distillery in Guyana. According to Jagdeo the setting up of a sugar refinery is also being looked at. It may be built either in Guyana or in a joint project with Trinidad and Tobago. A major aquaculture project for Region Five is also on the drawing board.
During his two-day visit to the region the President is to meet with a wide cross-section of individuals and organisations. Today he is to visit relatives of persons killed during the siege of Rose Hall and an attack by bandits on the Buxton Public Road. He will also meet with farmers and millers at the Tagore Memorial High School and hold a community meeting at Yakusari Primary School, Black Bush Polder.