Govt Ministers meet Linden-Soesdyke communities in outreach initiative

Guyana’s Government Ministers travelled far and wide to engage residents in 17 communities along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Thursday.
At the Silver Hill community, Minister Vickram Bharrat and Kwame McCoy, who was joined by MP Sanjeeve Datadin, met with residents on concerns and issues affecting the community. According to Minister Bharrat, practical solutions and areas of priority for development were also discussed.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, on his part, engaged with residents of Ideal Road.
During the meeting, residents highlighted a range of issues affecting their community, while Minister Edghill and the technical team from the Ministry of Public Works provided guidance and updates on upcoming works to be undertaken in the area.
This engagement formed part of a wider Cabinet-led outreach initiative, which saw several Ministers simultaneously meeting with communities along the highway to strengthen Government–citizen dialogue and ensure residents remain informed and involved in the development process.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Hon Vanessa Benn, met with residents of Waiakabra, where she emphasised that these interactions are vital to ensuring that Government policies and programmes remain people-centred and responsive to citizens’ needs.
“We are here to do the work of the Government, representing each and every citizen,” affirmed Minister Benn.
She continued, “Our Government cares about each and every Guyanese, to help you to improve your lives, to help you to improve the lives of your family, and to be able to participate in different sectors in our country’s development.”
The minister also highlighted several national initiatives aimed at enhancing citizens’ quality of life in the areas of housing, education, and healthcare. She specifically outlined a new housing programme for vulnerable communities, which provides assistance grants and other financial support to help families repair or upgrade their homes.
Residents used the opportunity to raise key community concerns, including issues related to land ownership documentation, the need for improved recreational spaces, road construction, and speeding trucks posing safety risks to residents.
On the matter of infrastructure, Engineer Christian Rajnauth from the Ministry of Public Works reported that the tender for the main access road has already been issued, with contract award expected soon through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Additionally, eleven other roads within the community have been identified for upgrades under the Ministry’s 2026 roadworks plan.
In addressing the safety issue, Minister Benn committed to engaging the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the police take steps to curb speeding truckers. On the issue of land ownership, she noted that this has to be addressed through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).
The Minister was accompanied by Thandi McAllister and James Bond, along with Waiakabra CDC Chairperson, Mr Lloyd Defreitas, and staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
Minister of Finance Ashni Singh also met with residents today at the Swan Community Centre, on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, as part of today’s Cabinet Outreach.
Joining the meeting was the Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Hon Keoma Griffith.
According to Singh, the community meetings reflect the PPP/C Government’s ongoing commitment to inclusive governance and ensuring that every village and community has a voice in shaping its development path.
The meeting aimed to hear the concerns of communities of the area and inform residents of the Government’s plans for Soesdyke-Linden Highway communities.