Minister of Public Service, Hon. Sonia Parag and team, were also at the venue engaging residents and documenting concerns.

Minister Croal took the opportunity to update residents on some policy directives which the President, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced on day one of the outreach.

“The President has given some policy directives which will bring about changes in the lives of you the ordinary citizens and your daily operations; this will translate into better health care services, educational service, and other general public services in this region”.

Residents were informed of Government’s plan to make some 25 acres of lands available for farming along the coast. Minister Croal also highlighted that some $1.7 billion is being allocated for continuous works in the water sector. He also spoke of his Ministry’s plan for a US$6 million (GY$1.2 billion) water treatment plant for Charity in the coming year, which will serve communities between Charity and Walton Hall. The Minister told residents he is aware of the quality of water being distributed along the coast and plans are afoot to remedy the situation.

“Region Two only has one treatment plant which provides only 41 percent coverage of treated water, within another year, the Guyana Water Inc is mandated to raise the coverage to 100 percent,” the Minister affirmed.

In the area of housing, the Minister told residents that infrastructure works to the tune of $40 million will commence shortly in Onderneedming Phase Four. Earlier this year some 350 house lots were allocated in that area under the Ministry’s flagship ‘Dream Realised’ Program.

These works will include construction of access roads and bridges and clearing of lands to ensure that allottees can prepare to take up residency. To make the scheme completely habitable with all other necessary infrastructure, inclusive of roads, drainage, water and electrical networks, an estimated $1.2 billion will be expended under the 2022 work program.

Meanwhile, residents took the opportunity to raise a number of other concerns, including deplorable roads, tardy response for old age pensions and public assistance books, poor drainage in the Zorg and Golden Fleece community.

The Ministers will continue their engagement with meetings at Johanna Cecilia and Maria’s Lodge during the day. Several other Ministers have also fanned out across communities along the Essequibo Coast, engaging residents with the aim of fixing issues affecting them. The outcome of these meetings will also shape policy decisions which are expected to transform lives of citizens.