“Every household must feel the impact of development” – Manickchand at 1st meeting with regional heads

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday held her first official engagement with regional leaders, where she outlined that every household must feel the impact of development taking place in Guyana.

The meeting brought together Regional Executive Officers (REOs), Regional Education Officers (REdOs), Regional Health Officers (RHOs), and Regional Engineers from all ten Administrative Regions. Minister within the Ministry Pauline Sukhai, Director General Anand Persaud, Permanent Secretary Miguel Choo Kang, and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration) Josh Kanhai were also in attendance.
Manickchand underscored the need for every household and resident to feel the impact of the Government’s development trajectory in real time, stressing that the Ministry will be working to bridge gaps between local governance structures and national priorities.
She told the gathering that the Government is committed to ensuring citizens across all regions benefit equitably while strengthening coordination between the Ministry and regional authorities.
“I think it was a good engagement because I want to see good governance and effective delivery of services. We want to make sure every household feels what every household should feel – love and kindness. I explained how important their roles are and how much can get in the way if they don’t function properly,” the Minister said.
She noted that the meeting also provided her with the opportunity to hear the challenges raised by the officials present. According to her, it is crucial that regional bodies function effectively, since when they do not, it is the people who are affected.
“Going forward, we are going to ensure effective delivery of services, and I am looking forward to rolling things out,” she asserted.
The Minister further highlighted that some matters will require urgent attention.
“There are a couple of things we have to treat as emergencies, such as projects that remain incomplete, and we are going to make sure those are completed,” she explained.
The discussions focused on critical areas such as health, education, infrastructure, community development, and local governance. According to the Minister, these areas represent some of the pressing challenges that require stronger partnerships and greater responsiveness at every level.
The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance, sustainable growth, and people-centred development. Officials said the new mandate sets the tone for enhanced regional partnerships and more effective service delivery to improve the quality of life for all Guyanese.