Technical training centre for Kamarang – Pres Ali at public meeting

– details plans for transportation, housing & employment support

The next People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will be establishing a technical training centre at Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), to build capacity in areas such as mining and forestry, among others. This was revealed by incumbent President Dr Irfaan Ali during a public meeting in the community hosted by the PPP/C on Sunday. According to Ali, who is seeking a second term in office at the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections, they will be partnering with heavy-duty operators in the country to provide the training for residents in the Region Seven. “So, what we want to do is to set up not only the training centre, but we’re going to invest in the tools through which your young people will be trained to provide the services to the mining, the forestry [sectors] and other services, Government services, right here in your community,” he told residents.

The PPP/C Presidential Candidate further noted that work on this training facility will commence before the end of this year. “We’ll build out the training facility, and we’ll fill out the facility with all of the equipment so that all of that service will be provided right here. So, that is an important investment that we’re going to make in your sub-region, and you can be guaranteed that before the end of this year, that facility, investments in that facility, will commence,” the incumbent President stated. This, according to Ali, will be complemented by more investments to give residents, especially children, the same access and educational opportunities like any other person across the country. A fully equipped study hub is among the upcoming investments in the sub-region. The facility will provide children with access to resources and technology to pursue degrees, diplomas, and other programmes offered by the University of Guyana (UG) and through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship initiative.

Modern school
Moreover, he revealed plans to not only upgrade the DC Caesar-Fox Secondary School in Kamarang, but also plans for a modern school that will foster post-secondary education and training.
“The school must be linked to the new hospital that we are building because we want that hospital to be a teaching hospital… The next Government would ensure that not only you have a modern DC Caesar-Fox Secondary School, but that that school will be offering medical technologist, nursing, dentistry – all of these programmes [will be] attached to the teaching hospital that we will build here,” Ali stated.
He added, “That is the future we’re talking to you about, not only giving you secondary education, but ensuring that after that secondary education you can find meaningful jobs. That after that secondary education, you can have the opportunity to advance your educational level right here in your sub-region, and to support that, we want your children to have modern facilities.”
On job creation, the President also detailed plans to not only expand the Community Service Officers (CSOs) and train them for professions like nursing and healthcare technicians to serve their communities, but similarly, upgrade the skillsets of the part-time workers so that they can get permanent employment.

Transportation costs
Meanwhile, the incumbent leader went on to highlight planned interventions for challenges that Kamarang and other surrounding communities in the region face, such as high transportation costs.
“So, I’m committing to you today that your new Government will invest in assets that will reduce the transport cost for you here in Kamarang and the surrounding communities… The Government must support the communities directly to reduce their transport cost so your goods can come in cheaper, and you can have lower prices for goods here in your community,” he noted.
To further lower costs, Ali promised to build a cold storage facilities in the area to store produce as well as equipping the communities with assets like ATVs, school buses, ambulances and tractors for farmers along with upgrading the local airstrips.
He added that his administration will support residents there to own key services in the communities, as well as for them to benefit from projects, so that the spending goes back into the local economy.
“We will use local labour and local contractor [s] – not just to grade the road, but to build an all-weather road connecting these two important areas (Kamarang and Waramadong] – a farm to market access road. And we want as much of these opportunities that we are creating to stay right in the villages,” he emphasised.
Moreover, the PPP/C Presidential Candidate also highlighted the party’s plan to transfer money to families to either build new homes or rehabilitate or expand their existing homes, as well as providing 24-hour electricity and enhanced water supply. “So, my friends, as we confront the challenges of the future, you have a Government that is committing to more expenditure in transportation to reduce your transport cost, to invest in health and education, improve your community infrastructure, expand your tourism, increase investment in your security, transferring more money to your local bodies so that they can have greater resources to service the needs of the people… We ask of you to give us the responsibility of building a better community, a stronger community and a more united country,” Ali urged.