Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
Piracy, electricity, street lights dominate Prime Minister’s Berbice outreach
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds wrapped up a region- wide outreach to Berbice this past week while making several stops and holding interactions with residents and various stakeholders. He was accompanied by Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan; Member of Parliament, Mr. Faizal M. Jaffarally, and Vice- Chairman, Mr. Bhupaul Jhagroo.
Hinds, Armogan and Jaffarally meeting with fisher folks at Number 66 Complex.
Hinds met with Corentyne fishermen and their Executive Body at the Number 66 Fishermen’s Co-op Society where several issues, including piracy, were discussed. The Prime Minister promised the fishermen that he will work to bring together the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Guyana and Suriname for bilateral talks into the piracy issue, which is greatly affecting the fisher folks along the Corentyne River.
Hinds thanked the fishermen for the sacrifices they make to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Guyana and to provide Guyanese with a source of protein at a reasonable cost. He was very concerned as it relates to the piracy issue. The fishermen complained that they met with Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr. Seelall Persaud who informed them that the Force usually finds it difficult to go after pirates at high sea, and that the police cannot use their authority since during those operations, they usually enter Suriname’s territorial waters.
Another area of concern raised by fishermen was the Guyana Power & Light (GPL) electricity issue that exists at the Co-op. The power company and the Co-op have been engaged in a battle in the law courts over the past three years for an outstanding payment of $29M. As a result, the Co-op has been without electricity supply since, creating immense difficulties for the operations there. Due to the length of time the matter has been in the court, the judge awarded only $10M to the power company, an amount which the Co-op agreed to pay incrementally. However, they asked Prime Minister Hinds during the meeting to plead with GPL on their behalf for reconnection. The Prime Minister promised to hold discussions with the executives of the power company, and expressed a positive outlook that the electricity supply to the Co-op will be reconnected.
The issue of illegal occupation by a private individual of a land adjacent to the Co-op, and which belongs to the Co-op was also sorted out as Hinds promised to hold a consultation with the officials at the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission.
The Prime Minister also met with residents of Number 19 Village, Corentyne where he listened to their concerns about the lack of street lights along that long, dark stretch of roadway.
Hinds discussing a particular issue with these sugar workers at Rose Hall Estate.
Hinds stated that lighting on the Corentyne Highway is an ongoing project that was started three years ago. He informed the residents that in 2014, the Number 64-69 Villages area had lights erected and that government is working to ensure in the very shortest possible time that lights be erected along the Number 19 Highway.
The Prime Minister also paid a courtesy call on the staffers at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Berbice Regional office at Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam. He wrapped up his outreach activity with a visit and walkabout at Rose Hall, Canje where he interacted with sugar workers at the pay office as well as market vendors. One concern raised was the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) issue and the hassle estate workers experience when it is time to receive their benefits. Hinds then urged estate management to intervene in assisting sugar workers in addressing these issues, while he himself promised to take the matter up with the NIS staff in Georgetown.
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