Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for public affairs Kwame McCoy and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha addressing Mocha-Arcadia residents
The community of Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is set to experience a barrage of infrastructural interventions that follow various promises made by President Ali and Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo earlier this year.
These interventions include a pump that Mocha residents will soon see in a month’s time and various roadworks.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha made this revelation during a meeting with residents on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag, Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar and Minister within the office of the Prime minister Kwame Mccoy during a recent visit to the community of Mocha Arcadia on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, Jagdeo met with Mocha residents and in keeping with the government’s mandate to improve drainage and irrigation for farmers, said a mobile pump would also be stationed at Mocha to improve drainage and irrigation.
President Ali and the Vice President had also committed to the construction of two wells and a water treatment plant that will serve the community, helping to alleviate their water woes.
Residents present at the meeting
Using these earlier commitments by the Guyanese leader, Minister Mustapha mentioned that the pump is already procured and will be delivered within a month’s time.
“When the President came here, he promised a permanent pump now we have procured that pump, and it is on its way. In another month’s time, you’ll have a permanent pump in Mocha, so your problem will be solved,” he stated, while being greeted with a round of applause from pleased Mocha Arcadia residents.
For years, Mocha Arcadia residents have needed proper drainage to support farming activities.
The minister added that members of the government have frequently visited Mocha, ensuring the community and its farmers are in the best shape and comfort.
“I visited this area a number of times, a number of ministers have visited this area, I myself have visited multiple times, and Sonia has worked in this area regularly for me so a number of issues have been resolved over time.”
Two of the roads set to undergo infrastructural works
Mocha is one of the areas receiving a fair share of help, and the government will continue to work with Mocha residents, just as they do with other communities.
The minister mentioned that machinery from the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) programme would soon be in the village.
“We have two machines from the D&I programme here, one is currently down, but it will be fixed by the end of this week.”
He added that a tractor pump would be placed within Mocha in a week’s time.
“We built, in conjunction with the Local Government Ministry, about a hundred tractor pumps. Now, a farmer just asked that we give one to Mocha, and we will provide them with provide one. Within a week, you’ll have a tractor pump placed in this area too. We put in a lot of effort in agriculture because we want to be secure,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Sonia Parag highlighted that, under her wings, many residents have been assisted technically through several checkups she personally conducted in the Mocha area.
“In relation to training, several programmes were conducted in this community through the GOAL scholarship programme, which I introduced. I also brought in ICT training, through which 16 young people were trained and given jobs at Qualfon after completing the programme.”
Though this pivotal step has been taken to meet the needs of Mocha residents, she noted that a surge of residents called for these programmes to continue, facilitating more job opportunities.
“People have raised concerns about wanting more activities and opportunities in this community, we fully agree that Mocha should be involved in all activities happening in this country. More training will be conducted through the Board of Industrial Training, and we will ensure that residents are made aware of these opportunities,” Minister Parag stated.
Minister Parag has highlighted that most people are simply not notified about all of the works and treating that the government has for youths.
“Half of the problem may just be that people are unaware. You know we have a labor shortage in the country and we need laborers, we need people in certain technical skills, welding plumbing all these things that we need, we need those kinds of persons to be trained which we should bring to,” the minister said.
Minister within the office of the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar traversed down Nelson Street, the continuation of Plantation Prosperity, the western side of Palm Street and Morning Glory, as well as five additional cross streets where he stated that contractors from Mocha/Arcadia will be hired to carry out the road enhancement works.
Not only will this be of assistance to the communities’ contractors but also skill workers as he emphasises to contractors the importance of hiring skilled workers within the community.
He also stated that Mocha residents are very much closer to brighter days, as scores of street lights have already gone into procurement.
“We have put out 100,000 lights in procurement right now, I know you’ve been asking for lights, too, high last year onto the grid because the grid was very, very weak. 227,000 people on the grid, homes on the grid and businesses, and a very small generation capacity. We’ve got to bring in more power because as of yesterday, they told me the peak demand is now up to 197 megawatts.”
There is also another tender for 100,000 units of lights, which is over 160 containers of lights that are coming to the country to go in other communities across Guyana. (G2)
