As officials of Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) continue their agenda to push development through local and foreign investment, the administration of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is now seeking to cash in on opportunities through the European Union (EU).
Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian
Regional Chairman Renis Morian recently explained that while the EU did not work directly through RDCs, the Union is expected to roll out a programme through Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) soon, an initiative which the Region aspired to benefit from. There is particular interest in the area of agriculture, Morian said. The Region 10 Administration has not received an agriculture budget for several years.
“What they’re saying, in the area of agriculture, they’re (EU) waiting on Government to share with them their priorities. So we would have to talk to our Ministers, when they’re talking to the EU, that they include that Region 10 got an agriculture project that they want to do,” the Regional Chairman said.
He added that letters have already been submitted to approximately five embassies, in an effort to discuss the development needs of the Region. The Regional Chairman also outlined several areas of social development which the Administration wished to pursue.
“We’ve shared with the European Union, the business of a halfway house for women and a holding place for juveniles. If a juvenile commits a crime and has to be held by the Police, he is held at the (Police) Station. While they don’t fund that, they gave us some steps that we could follow to make that a reality; but they also advised us to do a brochure as it relates to investment opportunities for Region 10,” Morian said.
The Regional Chairman added that the next step would be for the RDC and other local agencies such as the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC); the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) and the Linden Chamber of Commerce Industry and Development to initiate a meeting with the EU to share the Region’s cause, following which a document will be drafted.
