The Essequibo Coast has been significantly transformed during the 21 years of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, President Donald Ramotar said on Saturday evening.
He was at the time speaking at a rally on the Essequibo Coast to mark the party’s 21st anniversary since its victory at the polls in 1992.
The president’s address came after former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and other government and regional officials rallied residents for support even in the toughest of times. Earlier in the day, President Ramotar held a meeting with stakeholders from the business community in the region, where the major issues identified were the need for expansion of the thoroughfare and new street lights.
“This road… to come from Adventure, it used to take five and six hours. I experienced that personally coming to this coast… this road used to be called ‘Abortion Road’. Today, it is 38 miles of paved roads,” President Ramotar said.
Investments in the region’s physical infrastructure stand at Gy$528.21 million. The targets have been rehabilitation and expansion of major highways, upgrade of almost 90 percent of internal community roads and upgrade of farm to market roads from mud dams to fair weather roads.
Turning his attention to the social sector, Essequibo again stood out, particularly where education is concerned. The country’s top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performers hail from the Essequibo Coast. Two students copped 20 and 18 grade ones respectively which will likely help Guyana retain the top spot in the Caribbean for a second consecutive year, an optimistic President Ramotar said.
Investments
Their successes were attributed to the investments that have been made in the education sector throughout the country. During the period 1992 to 2012, all schools in Region Two were rehabilitated, while new facilities were constructed. Among them are the Aurora and Wakapao secondary schools, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Essequibo Technical Institute.
Wakapao Secondary School, with a dormitory, was the first for the hinterland area within the region. The president expounded on other pioneering initiatives like the University of Guyana’s plan to introduce online courses, and the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project that seeks to equip the population with the knowledge of computers.
He explained to residents the endless possibilities that Information Communication Technology (ICT) offer, like working in the comfort of one’s own home. The government is making the investments with the overall goal of transforming Guyana into a developed state, but in the new political dispensation, that process has constantly been challenged.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), for example, was voted down by the parliamentary opposition majority even though the benefits of the project to the Guyanese economy are well known. The expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the construction of the internationally-branded Marriott Hotel are also targeted by opposition.
Additionally, with plans to build a Specialty Hospital and offer services to locals and foreigners at a fraction of the original cost, the aim was to promote health tourism. That project too has been shot down by opposition legislators. Under the new political dispensation, the 10th Parliament has made no achievement other than budget cuts and opposition-piloted resolutions that are counterproductive and contrary to legislative norms and practices, the Government Information (GINA) reported.
