Govt. preparing NDCs to serve as “first level of response” in communities – Min Parag

– six mini excavators donated to EBD NDCs

In a bid to remove some of the strain on Central Government, and to improve community response, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Sonia Parag, recently disclosed that the Government will undertake several initiatives that will equip Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) with the necessary tools and equipment needed to address community issues such as drainage and irrigation.
The Minister made this highlight on Friday, during a handing over ceremony which saw NDCs on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) equipped with their own mini excavators.
The NDCs that benefited from today’s handover were Eccles/ Ramsburg, Mocha/Arcadia, Little Diamond/Herstelling, Soesdyke/Hui’s Te/Coverden, and Hauraruni/Yarrowkabra.
The six excavators represent an investment of approximately $96 million.
During the handing over ceremony Minister Parag said, “His Excellency and the Vice-President had tasked us with ensuring that the NDCs this year is equipped not only financially but they would have the necessary equipment to be able to function better in their capacities.”
She added, “We wanted the first level of response in the communities to come from the local democratic organs.”
The Agriculture Ministry had been tasked to ensure all NDCs across Guyana are equipped with their own mini excavator.
To further support the Government’s goal of making NDCs the “first level of response”, Minister Parag highlighted that this year, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry will procure compactor garbage trucks for each NDC.
“Later on, the Ministry of Local Government, in 2025, will roll out an initiative which is from the President himself: the rolling out of compactor garbage trucks for each NDC across the country,” she announced.
Moreover, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, urged members of the NDCs to ensure that the equipment is being used to enhance the community.
He noted that too often, machinery procured by the Government for community use are being utilised otherwise.
“We want these excavators to be used for the benefit of the community, cause many times we give out these things and when Ministers or the president goes into the community, we are getting serious complaints that these things are used for personal use, they are used for friends and family – we can’t do that.”
At a previous handing over ceremony, Mustapha had emphasised the importance of these machines in advancing the comprehensive drainage systems being developed nationwide. He noted that the initiative is part of the Government’s broader efforts to modernise and strengthen the country’s drainage infrastructure, ensuring better resilience against flooding.
Moreover, the Government plans to inject another $73.2 billion to complete several pump stations and advance other critical drainage and irrigation canals and structures this year. Guyanese will witness massive drainage works advancing in areas like Adams Creek, Region Two; Canefield, Region Six; Good Hope, and Mabaruma.
Since returning to office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government was able to commission new pump stations at Adventure, Region Six; Andrews and Cozier, Region Two and Greenwich Park, Region Three. The Government also procured and distributed 100 tractor-driven pumps and new machinery to ensure preventive maintenance across the region.