Ramdass highlights Region Six progress under PPP/C
Guyana Chronicle
October 31, 2003
THE Chairman, Mr. Kumkarran Ramdass has reported that 85 per cent of capital works in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) has been done.
He said much attention was paid to every sector by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, which put an end to neglect and destruction in the mainly agricultural region.
Ramdass detailed 2003 expenditure as $65M on drainage and irrigation; $37M on education; $37M on roads; $9M on bridges and $27M on health.
According to him, over the past 11 years, the Region made upward strides in every aspect of development.
Ramdass said the establishment of the University of Guyana Tain campus was the brainchild of late President Cheddi Jagan and is the realisation of a dream which closed the doors to ignorance and opened avenues to knowledge and sound morals.
The Chairman said the two branches of Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in New Amsterdam and Rose Hall/Port Mourant are to cope with the lack of trained teachers in the ‘Ancient County’ and the commissioning of schools at Orealla, Corentyne River and other Amerindian communities where none existed before is another achievement.
Ramdass said rehabilitation was completed on 60 per cent of the 150 functioning schools through funding from Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and the drainage and irrigation system continues to be given high priority by the Regional Administration.
He said, during the past year, more than 500 miles of canals were serviced and maintained, causing farmers to cultivate in excess of 40,000 acres, a significant increase over the cultivation prior to 1992.
Ramdass said, through the construction of sluice doors, bridges, revetments and other infrastructure, rice yield has improved and minimal flooding is anticipated with the next seasonal rainfall.
He said, in the past 11 years, too, the Government has expended between $15M and $20M annually to enhance health care delivery in Region Six.
Ramdass said, on assuming office in 1992, the PPP/C observed that the Guyanese populace had lost confidence in the health system but the government worked assiduously to better and restore it through the rehabilitation of existing ones and erection of health centres where there were none.
He said, in that process, millions of dollars were spent to rehabilitate and equip the New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Mibicuri hospitals while a state-of-the-art facility is currently being built at Garrison Road, Fort Canje, to replace the regional institution founded more than a century ago.
Ramdass said many people who formerly squatted on Government reserves because they could not afford to pay high rents now have homes in regularised settlements and land titles.
He said the inauguration of the Guyana-Suriname ferry service is another accomplishment that continues to stimulate economic opportunities for Berbicians.