Region Nine : During a visit to Karasabai Sub-Region, Region Nine over the week-end, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud and Permanent Secretary Collin Croal commissioned several of these projects that were funded under the Region Nine capital budget.
These include the plant nursery constructed for Karasabai, costing just about $1M, aimed at supplying different fruit plants to the Karasabai Sub District; a water trestle and well constructed at Tiger Pond, an investment of $5.5M; the $3.4M sanitary block at the Kumu Primary School; the upgrade to the Livestock Foreman’s quarters at St. Ignatius at a cost of $5.049M, and the sanitary block at Arapaima Nursery that cost $3.4M.
Also commissioned was the upgraded old hospital facility, an investment of $4.885M to provide housing for the region’s Environmental Health Officer and the $290,000 plumbing repairs that were facilitated on the Tabinga Sport Ground Complex.
The sanitary blocks are testament to Government’s focus on ensuring the delivery of education in a safe and healthy environment, Minister Persaud said. In this case, it is the move from pit latrines to a healthier environment. The region’s 2013 education budget funded the construction of seven sanitary blocks.
The water infrastructure investment in Tiger Pond took the form of a trestle. At Kumu, the region is partnering with the villagers to address the provision of water. Whilst the region, funded the construction of the trestle, the villagers are constructing the accompanying well which is nearing completion.
Kumu, a scattered village is seeking to become a cluster, as such it is moving to make available the infrastructure in the centre of the community in this regard. The provision of water infrastructure is a step in this regard.
Minister Persaud applauded the villagers’ willingness to work with Government to develop their community.
PS Croal noted that the commissioning ceremonies are testimony to Government being responsive to the needs of the communities, accessing priorities and dealing with them as funds permit.
The sum of $1.318B was provided for Region Nine in the 2013 budget
Whilst in the Sub-district, the Minister and PS, in response to common issues raised during an outreach in August, delivered sewing machines and sport gear including volley balls and footballs sets.
The communities that benefitted include Karasabai, Rukumuto, Karabaicru, Tiperu, Pai Pang, Tiger Pond and Cra Cranana. Karabaicru and Cracrana also received a brush cutter each. Cracrana also received a complete solar panel set.
President Donald Ramotar recently signed off on three of the four bills necessary for the reforms for the holding of the Local Government elections. In anticipation of the election in 2014, The Ministry has begun to target officials from the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDCs) via a series of workshops.
Whilst in Region Nine, the ministry conducted one such exercise with the officials and other stakeholders of the region in the RDC building in Lethem.
The workshops are aimed at informing the officials of the new procedures and regulations that have been formulated for the holding of the elections.
