The Local Government Ministry on Tuesday handed over to the different regions approximately Gy$22 million worth of tools and equipment that were requested.
Nigel Dharamlall
The handing-over was done by the permanent secretary in that ministry, Nigel Dharamlall. The equipment included complete solar panel units costing Gy$7.3 million, to power refrigerators for health huts in several hinterland areas; solar panel units costing Gy$2.7 million, for lighting; land tillers to Regions One, Seven and Nine, costing Gy$971,000; mist blowers to Regions One, Four, Six and Nine, costing Gy$454,000; gasoline generators to Regions One, Four, Five, Six and Nine, costing Gy$1,030,000; diesel generators to Regions Seven and Eight, costing Gy$577,000; gasoline water pumps to Regions Six and Eight, to boost the water distribution network; nine outboard engines to Regions One, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten, costing Gy$3.45 million; and chainsaws for Amerindian Village Councils in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, to the total value of Gy$2.2 million.
Additionally, the ministry will be handing over several All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), for which it is currently going through the final stages of the procurement period, as well as a number of garbage trucks to various municipalities which were procured through the intervention of President Bharrat Jagdeo. Dharamlall disclosed that the ministry is in the process of providing Gy$20 million to mobilise resources for the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown for restoration of City Hall, which is one of the country’s landmarks.
Thus far, Gy$5 million has already been handed over to the Council, and as works progress, the balance will be made available. With regards to current and capital works for the 10 administrative regions, the permanent secretary said, the execution of works has been progressing smoothly. In terms of expenditure, close to 50 per cent of allocation has already being expended.
Dharamlall commended the regional executive officers (REOs) for their commitment in ensuring the rapid advancement of their respective capital and current projects. He also explained that there are several issues that affect implementation of the works, such as unpredictable weather, which has particularly hindered the ongoing road works. Nevertheless, the REOs have managed to make interventions to minimise the loss of impetus.
“We have done a lot of things at the ministry to en sure that efficiency is built within our regional systems,” he noted. These steps include the setting up of a management information system (MIS) at the ministry, which will now enable REOs at any point in time to access relevant information to determine implementation with regards to various aspects of their work programme. This initiative has geared the regional administration with the necessary instrument that would facilitate improved and enhanced monitoring.
