President David Granger on Monday told residents of Anna Regina and neighbouring communities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) that Local Government Elections (LGE) are not about winning or losing but about empowering citizens.
The crowd of mainly schoolchildren at the meeting on Monday
The Head of State was at the time speaking at a community meeting held at the Anna Regina car park on the Essequibo Coast.
As such, the President noted the need for competent persons to be elected to the municipality and for residents to move away from voting on the basis of party politics. He called on residents of the town to vote for people who are going to develop Anna Regina, thereby ensuring Region Two became the powerhouse it was destined to be.
“When we are in government, we don’t say this is PPP (People’s Progressive Party) municipality or a PPP Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), we say this is a part of Guyana and we help Guyanese wherever they are,” the Head of State said.
He made it clear that “this government is a government for the whole country” and so, no matter the outcome of the November 12, 2018 elections, “we will continue to help Anna Regina to be a better town”.
The President distributing bicycles at Anna Regina
The President pointed to improvements within the township and noted that Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson knew his responsibilities.
Government, he stressed, has three tiers – local, regional and central – which have to work together to ensure that citizens benefit and enjoy the good life.
But while this is ideal, President Granger pointed to the fact that Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was absent from the community meeting. “Look around, you think the Regional Chairman for Region Two is here? He is not here. That is the problem in Guyana. The President is here, the neighbourhood is here, but the middle piece is not here. That is what we have to solve in this country. All three levels have to work together if we are to move this region forward,” he declared.
Further, the Head of State said the time has come when residents must think of the future and look towards developing the Region.
The President assured those gathered at the Anna Regina car park that his government and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were prepared to work to improve the town.
“I want people to get rich; I want people to open enterprises, to develop all parts of Guyana, but [I want]Anna Regina ,which has so many advantages, to take the lead, because you have the experience of being part hinterland, part coastland,” President Granger is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.
He noted that over the years, Anna Regina has struggled because of poor leadership while assuring that better leadership was on the horizon.
Moreover, President Granger said it was his vision that Anna Regina would have its own municipal aerodrome so that business persons from the Caribbean could land in Anna Regina, conduct their business in the morning and leave before nightfall.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson also spoke to the importance of LGE and local democracy.
At the conclusion of the community meeting, President Granger presented some 20 bicycles to school-aged children of Anna Regina and neighbouring communities. The handing over of the bicycles is part of the Public Education Transport Service (PETS).
Social Protection Minister Amna Ally was also present at the community meeting.
