‘No community left behind’ – PM tells of people-centred development at Dartmouth

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that every community across Guyana benefits from national development. He made the announcement during a community outreach held in Dartmouth, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Speaking with residents, the prime Minister said he recently held discussions with local officials, who identified several areas still without electricity. He noted that there are still pockets of people not yet connected to the national grid.
“As a Government, it is our intention to identify those pockets and gradually connect every household bit by bit, bringing real improvements to your daily lives,” PM Phillips said.

The prime Minister also highlighted that communities which had never seen a concrete or asphalt road in over 50 years are now witnessing those developments for the first time. Former sand trails, he explained, have been transformed into asphalted or concrete roads.
“You know this better than I do… you live it every day. But that is why we are here to listen to you, identify your needs, and continue to deliver on these projects,” he told the gathering.
The prime Minister stated that he remains committed to working closely with regional and local Government bodies to bring meaningful change to residents.
“When we come to sessions like these, we stay grounded in one guiding principle: putting people at the centre of governance,” he added.
Prime Minister Phillips added that despite significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread flooding in several villages across the coast, the Government remained steadfast in its commitment to development, staying focused on delivering results and ensuring that progress continued without interruption.
“If you reflect honestly on what has happened from August 2020 to now, you will see the progress. We listened to you. We acted on what you told us,” he emphasised.
On the issue of transparency, the Prime Minister made clear that public funds must be used for development and not for corruption.
“What was happening before amounted to bribery. We’re not paying bribes or ‘tail’. We’re taking the money and investing it in your communities, where it belongs,” he said.
According to Phillips, the PPP/C’s approach has always been people-centred, with Ministers maintaining constant outreach and follow-ups with communities to ensure concerns are addressed.
“Even without oil and gas at that time, we used what little revenue we had to build roads, improve infrastructure, and bring development to every part of Guyana—including Essequibo,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
Now, with more resources at hand, the Government is working to build on that legacy. PM Phillips noted that while not every issue can be solved centrally, the presence of all three levels of Government—central, regional, and NDC—at these engagements shows a coordinated effort to respond to the people’s needs.
“Let’s continue working together to make your communities stronger and your futures brighter,” the Prime Minister said.
Also attending the meeting were Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, Member of Parliament Dr Tandika Simone Smith, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva, Regional Executive Officer Susana Saywack, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, Prime Minister Representative Arnold Adams, among other regional officials.