Latest update April 4th, 2025 12:14 AM
APNU calls for renewed development strategy for Region 10
Leader of the Political Opposition faction, David Granger, has made an urgent call for the renewed regional, economic and social development initiative to improve the economy and as well as the quality of life of residents of the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region (Region Ten).
David Granger
This he expressed at a press briefing yesterday which was held at his office on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Also present at the conference was Member of Parliament (MP) and Regional Democratic Councilor of Region 10, Renis Morian.
Granger, before highlighting some of the key points to justify his call, firstly noted that the region is the real gateway to much of the hinterland and indeed the rest of South America.
He then reminded that the region’s mining and logging resources have been exploited for decades and that the agricultural potential of its vast intermediate savannahs is still untapped, while its physical infrastructure is undeveloped and its tourism resources are largely unexplored.
During his address, Granger expressed his disappointment that the residents continue to remain poor whilst the Region is rich in resources.
The Opposition leader also expressed his concern for the region’s current state, given its economic potential as well as its strategic importance, and taking into consideration as well that “the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been so reluctant to implement comprehensive administrative measures to improve the quality of life for residents of the region”.
The Member of Parliament went on to discuss a few topics of interest which he believes should be made the focal point for the review of the plan to develop the region.
Granger spoke to the importance of educational attainment, the need for an increase in employment opportunities, the unavailability of technicians to operate the equipment at the Linden Hospital and a ‘river ambulance’ for the riverain areas such as Calcuni, Kimbia, Wiruni and Sand Hills. He also spoke to the terrible terrain which continues to make transportation an arduous task for residents.
He said that some schools within the region are physically unsafe as basic necessities such as lights, proper sanitary facilities and running water are not in place.
He noted too that even with the presence of the Russian Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc and the Chinese Bai Shan Lin and BOSAI companies, who have “provided slight relief”, several labour issues still remain unsettled.
Renis Morian
Granger also made reference to the fact that transport has been severely affected by the withdrawal of the of the Berbice river-boat service which has affected agricultural production and marketing in the region. He also mentioned several roads, including the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani roads, which are currently in a terrible state.
“The Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF) — the successor to the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) has been starved of funding thereby depriving many poor people from escaping from poverty,” Granger said
He further asserted, “The PPPC administration, seven years ago in 2007, did indeed promise to promulgate a five-year development plan. Its objectives were to be the reduction of the Region’s traditional dependency on mining and the achievement of long-term economic diversification and collaboration between the state, the private sector and the community. That plan targeted the agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, tourism, information communication technology and mining sectors.”
APNU, he said, laments the fact that the PPPC administration never fully implemented that plan. “The PPPC administration has still not implemented the essential elements of the 21st August 2012 agreement between the Central Government and the Regional Administration seventeen months after signing it.”
It is upon this background that the leader of APNU made a call for a new plan which he believes is now needed to resume the task of the development of the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region.
This call was also supported by Morian, who also later elaborated on the points raised by the Leader of the Opposition.
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