…will create employment in community – President Ali
The farming community of Laluni on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway will benefit from major upgrades to its road network with the award over $50 million in contracts for preliminary works.
President Dr Irfaan Ali holding his son Zayd while interacting with a resident of Laluni on Saturday
This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a visit to the community on Saturday to participate in its Heritage Month celebrations.
According to the Head of State during brief remarks, these upgrades will be done in phases.
“I know that you have tremendous difficulties with the road and I am pleased to announce to you that only this week, we awarded three contracts to the value of $50 million to start phase one of this road,” he informed the residents.
Phase one of the road upgrade involves grading and shaping works in preparation for phase two to get underway.
President Dr Irfaan Ali handed over several pieces of farming equipment to Laluni during Saturday’s visit
President Ali noted that personnel from the Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development Ministries will be visiting Laluni soon to ascertain the capacity available in the village to work on the second phase of the project.
This, he explained, will create employment in the community while ensuring residents are involved in the development of their village.
“In phase two of this road, we will be examining ways in which we can involve the community because one of the quickest ways in which we can have the road completed is to have concrete paved roads,” the Head of State disclosed.
The PPP/C Government has placed heavy emphasis on improving the country’s infrastructure. In Budget 2022, a whopping $76.7 billion was earmarked for the construction of roads and bridges throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the upgrade of the roads in Laluni was welcomed by residents who said the road has been in a deplorable state for a number of years. They are also grateful because it will play a major role in boosting food production in the community.
“The road had been in this state for probably over five years and it has had a tremendous effect on the transportation for farmers who has been finding it impossible to reach out to the different areas,” Laluni resident, Anthon Abrams, told DPI.
He added that, “the road had many setback and I trust that with this new initiative it will be appreciated a lot not only by the farmers but the other residents”.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the community, Julian Mohabir also expressed similar sentiments.
“Farmers have been punishing with the road as well as the school children to attend the secondary school and this help we will get with the road, it will help the farmers 100 per cent,” he stated.
Rabindranauth Doobay, the community’s largest producer of cherries, said as a farmer, he is elated about the announcement made by President Ali.
“I am very much glad for the promise today which I heard from his mouth that we will be getting the road at a first phase because it had been a long time… We are all farmers in here and the road is 100 per cent needed,” Doobay told DPI.
President Ali, during his remarks, had expressed his intention to make the small farming community a major food production hub for the country. To this end, he said the Agriculture Ministry would work along with farmers in Laluni to develop a resilient and sustainable food production system.
“I’m going to ask the Ministry of Agriculture to come and work with you on a programme through which you can develop a resilient and sustainable food production system. One in which you can expand your production with the help of the banking institutions and private investors to see how we can lead this community to become an important and major food production hub for our country,” he posited.
The Head of State reiterated that the idea is not only to make Guyana food secure but the entire Caricom (Caribbean Community) Region as well with the involvement of the entire country. To this end, he handed over several pieces of farming equipment to Laluni.
Additionally, the President further outlined that he is calling on every Guyanese, especially the youths, to bring their ideas forward to find the best formula to enhance food production and they will receive Government’s support.
Moreover, Ali went on to recommit his Government’s “hard work, support and collaboration” to building a more sustainable and resilient community.
“We are going to continue to invest in you, we are going to continue to invest in this community, and we will continue to expand our services. But more importantly, we must bring the people along with us.”
He added that he is committed to keeping his promise of spending time in every community regardless of its size and to listening to the concerns and suggestions of residents.
“And I say to you today as you celebrate this heritage, that we are together. We are building a ‘One Guyana’ stronger than ever together, here in Laluni and all across the country,” the President stated. (G8)
