Transformation in Bartica

While some may engage in certain negativities with respect to the progress that is being made in the country, one only has to look at what is happening on the ground to form an objective opinion. Evidence abounds that Guyana is being transformed into a modern nation with a people-centred approach to national development. In the social sector, for example, there has been an enormous amount of improvement in the areas of education, health care delivery, and housing, among others.

The country has re- established a market- led economy after years of decline under the previous administration, and the economy has been restructured in such a way as to support increasing levels of social sector and infrastructural investment alongside private sector- driven economic growth. Further, a walk around the commercial areas of the capital city of Georgetown, where huge buildings are being erected and/ or refurbished to accommodate new and expanding businesses, shows evidence to support the claim that positive things are happening in the business sector.

The housing programme undertaken by the government is perhaps one of the best in the region. Housing is currently being transformed with the opening up of new housing schemes across the country. The public/ private partnership between government and the private sector has resulted in many families, including the poor and vulnerable, not only receiving their land titles, but also owning their homes.

On a recent visit to Bartica, President Bharrat Jagdeo assured residents there that they will also soon be realising their dreams of home ownership when his administration activates a housing programme in the area. He told residents that there are foreseeable challenges in the process because of the topography of Bartica being different from that of the flatlands on the coastal plain, but he remains optimistic that the programme can be successfully executed.

This news was well received by the residents, as some of them would now be able to own land – something they had always hoped. Owning their own lands will empower them to do other things, which will see their lives being transformed; they would each be able to use their transport to take a loan to construct a house, or even do a business, for example.

The head of state was reported as saying that Bartica has been the largest beneficiary of government’s per capita expenditure. He was quoted as saying that even though the community has a small number of people, reasonably large investments have been made over the past several years, which include the road network and the main market.

These are indeed positive moves being made, which clearly show that the administration’s vision for developing this country has no boundaries, as every region and every village will enjoy a slice of the national pie. The naysayers will want to put their own spin to what is currently happening, considering that we are now approaching the period of national elections.

This is not to say that situations could not have been better. There are justifiable reasons why some of our people are not satisfied with what is happening in their communities as we all want better roads, schools, hospitals, and other basic infrastructure; but we have to realise that many areas of development are competing for scarce resources, hence decisions are based on priorities.